1.8 20V Timing Belt Tensioner

[exedriver]

I am in the process of changing the timing belt on my '99 1.8 20V. I have removed the belt cover but am having trouble with the tensioner.

I have an APT engine and my Haynes book says to put an 8mm allen key in the hole and turn the tensioner anti-clockwise (i.e. compress the tensioner) until you can put a 2mm drill through the hole in the piston.

Well it just would not budge. Then I noticed that the book says:

"The damping element can only be compressed if its temperature is more than 30 deg C"

What???? :confused:

Help please

[martin1810]

Keep constant even pressure on the hex key. It will start to move back. It's easier with a socket hex bit on a ratchet.

[exedriver]

Thanks Martin, yeah that worked. I just wasn't applying enough pressure and was afraid of overdoing it and breaking something!

New belt now on but discovered that the other two belts need doing also :(

[stonedagain]

Thanks Martin, yeah that worked. I just wasn't applying enough pressure and was afraid of overdoing it and breaking something!

New belt now on but discovered that the other two belts need doing also :(
Every time I replace a timing belt, I always replace the other belts at the same time.
1. New ones are relatively cheap.
2. It is no extra work to replace them as you would be re-fitting the old ones anyway.
3. By doing this, I have never, ever had a belt failure.
4. It saves the additional work of changing them at a later date.