Timing Belt Tension Sensor Cable Replacement: A Warning
01-12-2015, 02:44 PM
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Burning Brakes
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Timing Belt Tension Sensor Cable Replacement: A Warning
I thought I'd pass on my recent experience replacing the timing belt sensor cable on my '85, not because it's was particularly challenging or because it was a very gratifying repair, but just because it was such a seemingly unnecessary PITA.
A couple of years ago I began a top down (literally) refresh on my 85 that included the intake manifold, alternator, timing belt, water pump, sunroof and A/C. During the course of the work I damaged the Timing Belt sensor cable that penetrates the center TB cover, it's a water tight two piece connector with a female spade connector on the inside of the TB cover that fits on a copper lug on the TB tensioner. Not particularly high tech. I snapped the 25 year old plastic retaining clip off the through bulkhead part of the cable when I first removed the cover two years ago and had to replace it.
At first I tried not replacing it, I honestly didn't know the replacement part was available. I re-assembled everything only to end up with random timing belt tension warnings on the dash when the cables separated because that retaining clip was broken. I pushed them back together for awhile until I got tired of doing it and someone on this list gave me the replacement part number.
So I tore it all down, replaced the connecter or re-assembled it. The tear down is nearly the same as required to expose the TB, it takes a few hours. After the new cable went in I stopped getting console lights.
Then my water pump failed and I had to tear it all down again, but this time I didn't get lucky on that cable and after everything was re-assembled the idiot light on the panel started coming on again. I'd had some difficulty getting the spade connecter seated on that copper lug (it was loose) and I'd used a pair of pliers to crimp it more firmly on the lug before closing up the engine, apparently that hadn't helped.
Not wanting to tear the whole thing down a third time in the same year, I tried just taking off the passenger side TB cover enough to squirt some de-oxit on the connector. It didn't help.
Finally yesterday I broke down and took it all apart again. I found the female connector was bent out of shape and after several hours trying to bend it back into something that would give me a solid connection to the sensor I gave up, took the cable out of the center TB cover, cut off the spade connector and replaced it. It took about 30 seconds. This coming on the heels of several days over the course of several years trying to get this stupid fifteen cent connector to work. The irony is the through bulkhead connector is this custom looking high end waterproof affair sealed with it's own little o-ring and the weak link is a cheesy H/W store spade connector.
So here's my advice; don't try re-using that connector, if you have any trouble at all with it, replace it. It's just not worth goofing around with for years.
Frustrated in Frisco.
A couple of years ago I began a top down (literally) refresh on my 85 that included the intake manifold, alternator, timing belt, water pump, sunroof and A/C. During the course of the work I damaged the Timing Belt sensor cable that penetrates the center TB cover, it's a water tight two piece connector with a female spade connector on the inside of the TB cover that fits on a copper lug on the TB tensioner. Not particularly high tech. I snapped the 25 year old plastic retaining clip off the through bulkhead part of the cable when I first removed the cover two years ago and had to replace it.
At first I tried not replacing it, I honestly didn't know the replacement part was available. I re-assembled everything only to end up with random timing belt tension warnings on the dash when the cables separated because that retaining clip was broken. I pushed them back together for awhile until I got tired of doing it and someone on this list gave me the replacement part number.
So I tore it all down, replaced the connecter or re-assembled it. The tear down is nearly the same as required to expose the TB, it takes a few hours. After the new cable went in I stopped getting console lights.
Then my water pump failed and I had to tear it all down again, but this time I didn't get lucky on that cable and after everything was re-assembled the idiot light on the panel started coming on again. I'd had some difficulty getting the spade connecter seated on that copper lug (it was loose) and I'd used a pair of pliers to crimp it more firmly on the lug before closing up the engine, apparently that hadn't helped.
Not wanting to tear the whole thing down a third time in the same year, I tried just taking off the passenger side TB cover enough to squirt some de-oxit on the connector. It didn't help.
Finally yesterday I broke down and took it all apart again. I found the female connector was bent out of shape and after several hours trying to bend it back into something that would give me a solid connection to the sensor I gave up, took the cable out of the center TB cover, cut off the spade connector and replaced it. It took about 30 seconds. This coming on the heels of several days over the course of several years trying to get this stupid fifteen cent connector to work. The irony is the through bulkhead connector is this custom looking high end waterproof affair sealed with it's own little o-ring and the weak link is a cheesy H/W store spade connector.
So here's my advice; don't try re-using that connector, if you have any trouble at all with it, replace it. It's just not worth goofing around with for years.
Frustrated in Frisco.
