Front Cover/Timing Chain Replace?

robbyb20

Well-known member
Oct 2, 2019
227
34
Seattle
Ok, water pump off. Front cover off. Oil Pan almost off (got tired and stopped for the day).

At first glance, timing chain is a bit loose on the drivers side, need to replace?

While cleaning off timing cover, I noticed a crack that had been "repaired" by the previous owner. Do I replace or leave it?


 
Last edited:

jprover2

Well-known member
Apr 8, 2017
146
10
Birmingham,Al
At the repaired area was the timing cover leaking before? If not, on the back side of the timing cover is your oil pump, take the oil pump cover off and inspect the surface where the gears ride. If there is not much scarring where the gears ride, replace the oil pump gears and roll with it. The timing chain and gears are like $100.00 and idiot proof, so why wouldn't you.
 

robbyb20

Well-known member
Oct 2, 2019
227
34
Seattle
At the repaired area was the timing cover leaking before? If not, on the back side of the timing cover is your oil pump, take the oil pump cover off and inspect the surface where the gears ride. If there is not much scarring where the gears ride, replace the oil pump gears and roll with it. The timing chain and gears are like $100.00 and idiot proof, so why wouldn't you.

No leak at site of repair. Oil pump gears look good.

Originally had ordered all of those parts to replace but since roverparts.com blew up on Wednesday when I ordered, none those items have arrived yet and may have to order somewhere else.
 

terryjm1

Well-known member
Jan 23, 2011
1,486
375
“but since roverparts.com blew up on Wednesday”

care to elaborate?
 

robbyb20

Well-known member
Oct 2, 2019
227
34
Seattle
“but since roverparts.com blew up on Wednesday”

care to elaborate?
There was a storm local to the east coast that took out power and fried some of their server equipment. As of yesterday, they are waiting on parts for servers to bring back online.
 

JohnB

Well-known member
Oct 18, 2007
2,292
12
Oregon
Not sure if still an issue but when I did mine forever ago the aftermarket gears did not sit correctly. Had to go OE.
 

robbyb20

Well-known member
Oct 2, 2019
227
34
Seattle
Everything is back together. Ive bled the system a couple times but im still running about 10 degrees warmer than before Before change 186-194 mostly in the 188 range. After, 194-210 mostly in the 194 range. Bought a thermometer to gauge if there is anthying going on with the radiator but will also recheck belt routing. It occasionally gets down 179 but only a handful of times.
 

robbyb20

Well-known member
Oct 2, 2019
227
34
Seattle
Ive bled the system of any air, heater core is hot, i can feel hot water on all the hoses but im still not seeing any difference in temps. Im starting to wonder if the new water pump I inherited when I bought the car is bad. Its an airtex with a copper wheel, looks to be the old $80 version on the roverparts.com site.

It almost feels like it isnt pumping water all the time. Coolant will either rush thru and cool all the way down to 179 (usually on first cycle) and then either sit at 194-200 or sit between 215-220. I cant make heads or tails of it.

Should I buy a new (verified new) water pump or is there anything else I should be looking at? Genuine 190 thermostat installed in Dec 19. Everything was working before the switch. The old water pumps bears are going so I wont put that one back on.

Thanks!
 
Last edited:

robbyb20

Well-known member
Oct 2, 2019
227
34
Seattle
Airtex makes good water pumps. I didn't know there was a cheap version.
That’s good to know! It’s my first time using one of their products and I’m unfamiliar with them as a whole. Since it was in a box of parts handed to me with the car a year ago I wasn’t completely sure if it’s history.
 

JohnB

Well-known member
Oct 18, 2007
2,292
12
Oregon
Have heard stories of folks who mix the hoses up on the thermostat top end and also not route the serp belt correctly.

What was your reason for taking everything apart?
 

robbyb20

Well-known member
Oct 2, 2019
227
34
Seattle
Have heard stories of folks who mix the hoses up on the thermostat top end and also not route the serp belt correctly.

What was your reason for taking everything apart?
Fan clutch was going so decided to do the water pump at same time. It was attached with a gasket sealer vs a regular gasket which made it extremely difficult to get off and ultimately damaged the original. The one i first replaced it with was new in box Airtex that came with when i bought the vehicle.

Anyway, new/known good water pump installed and everything is working like it should.