Timing belt service advice

Captain America · Post by **Captain America** » Mon Nov 14, 2016 5:16 pm

Friends,
I'm new to the forum but, have lurked for quite a while. I purchased a 1990 automatic diesel 4x4 this past August with 154,000 km on the clock. It runs very smooth and blows no smoke.I'm in Brooklyn New York and am ready to change out/service the timing belt. I sourced all the parts from Amazon and called around to some reputable shops for the work. Bottom line is I can't find anyone willing to touch it. It's too obscure for these shops and they are rightly apprehensive about tackling the job without having ever worked on one of these before. My questions are:
1. Could somebody quantify how hard this job actually is for somebody like me who has the tools to do it and light mechanic experience?
2. Does anyone have any recommendations for a diesel mechanic here in the northeast?
3. Local Mitsubishi dealer a good option?

Any and all views/ opinions are welcome. I just want to get this timing belt service out of the way as I do not know when it was last changed.

Regards

Morgonzo · Post by **Morgonzo** » Tue Nov 15, 2016 6:49 am

Is there a sticker on the timing belt cover that looks like this? Mucho thanks to Growlerbearnz for the translation....

: Timing belt cover sticker showing belt changed at 170,797 Km's in 2014; IMG_1147.JPG (440.16 KiB) Viewed 6913 times

The date on that sticker is 2014 -01-29. There is a DIY tutorial in the Tech section on how to do it. Seems intense but not impossible. It also seems like it's a very expensive (I've read quotes of 2 grand..) job done at a shop, when the belt's (Timing AND balancing belt) and tensioners seem to run around 150-200 bucks.
Sorry I cannot help with any shop recommendations.

Hope this helps Captain.

Post by **Growlerbearnz** » Tue Nov 15, 2016 2:36 pm

It's not hugely difficult. Follow the workshop manual (Download "The 4D5 & 4G7 Engine Manuals" - the one with better on-vehicle service procedures- from the technical reference library here http://www.delica.ca/forum/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=7335. You want page 11B-26 onwards.

Check out Tojo's excellent thread on head/belt replacement for real-world pictures. http://www.delica.ca/forum/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=16587. Just be aware that a number of things Tojo does are because he's replacing the head as well- stick to the workshop manual.

There's another handy (and much shorter) thread here: http://www.delica.ca/forum/viewtopic.ph ... 1&p=130721 which describes belt replacement, with a few other tricks for locking the flywheel and removing the crank pulley.

Both those threads imply that the crank pulley will just come off once the bolt is removed. I've never been that lucky. Regular gear pullers don't seem to work very well, I've had to improvise a special tool like so:

: Puller.JPG (111.33 KiB) Viewed 6903 times

Loosen the crank bolt, then find/make a thick piece of steel bar, holes drilled at each end, bolted into the crank pulley. Then unwind the crank bolt to push the bar out. Add spacers as you run out of length.

Captain America · Post by **Captain America** » Wed Nov 16, 2016 7:25 am

Bear,
Thank you very much for providing the links & pics. I'm going to print these out for when I approach the next mechanic as I still would prefer have somebody qualified doing the job. Your direction is indespensible.

Gonzo,
I'm going to check my engine bay this afternoon. Thank you for the decoding key!

Captain America · Post by **Captain America** » Thu Nov 17, 2016 7:54 am

Bear,
Found a sticker affixed to the timing belt shroud. The penned in writing was so faint that I had discounted it as a timing belt change designation. Upon taking pictures of the decal with flash on and flash off it looks as if it's the mileage the timing belt was changed. It looks to be marked 86,6xx km and the odometer is at 158,xxx. I feel a little more reassured considering the mileage is still under the recommended 80,000km interval ,but I will be changing out the timing belt etc very soon as I have no indication of how many years ago the change was made.

Thank you again for the pertinent info.

helibrian · Post by **helibrian** » Thu Nov 24, 2016 3:24 am

There is a way better way to get the crankshaft bolt loose and tight. Go under the engine at the back and there is a thin stainless plate covering the torque converter I think it's 4 10mm bolts holding the cover on. Remove the cover and Just stick a flat screw driver(at 3 or 9 o'clock position) in the gear and have a friend break the torque on the bolt and do the same thing just stick the screw driver in the other side to torque it. If you are changing the timing belt you should definitely change the water pump and thermostat. Also get a new oil line for the alternator. The oil line has gone on a lot of l300 and it will drain your oil in a 5 minutes. It's not hard to change the timing belt I've done it 4 times. Just make sure all the timing marks are aligned.

Post by **Growlerbearnz** » Fri Nov 25, 2016 2:15 pm

helibrian wrote:Remove the cover and Just stick a flat screw driver(at 3 or 9 o'clock position) in the gear...

A screwdriver! You heathen! Clearly the correct way to do it is with an allen key. That way you don't need a friend to help. (Though of course I have lots of friends. Honest. *sob*)

helibrian · Post by **helibrian** » Sat Nov 26, 2016 3:15 am

I just saw the other post with a Allen key. I love finding better ways to do things although I just figured out how to get the panel under the e brake off after already doing 3 timing belts. It was out of necessity though. My rad had to be replaced.

philmeup1 · Post by **philmeup1** » Sat Nov 26, 2016 5:01 pm

I was into VW busses before I got my L300. Mainly because the "Lemon Aid" car guide said, You'll be comfortable waiting for the tow truck in a Westfalia. The beds are comfy, I'll give them that. But I'm still using my VW mechanic that works at the local dealership here in my home town. He's also a personal friend. What he told me is an engine is an engine. Now he is quite skilled, I have to admit.

So on that point I had Steven from Rising Sun Imports (where I buy all my parts from) email me the workshop manual. I printed this off, put it in a groovy little binder and gave it to my mechanic. According to him, there was a slight learning curve, but nothing major. He did a bunch of work while he was in there and I've been smooth sailing ever since.

Anyway, just a story for you on my experience. A decent mechanic can repair most things. You just have to find one willing to take on the challenge. The local Mitsubishi Dealer (I'm in Ontario) freaked out when I first brought my van out to them. They all loved seeing it, but they were upfront that they wouldn't be able to work on it.

Can't or don't want to.....?

Cheers, Phil

Captain America · Post by **Captain America** » Thu Dec 01, 2016 6:23 am

Update:
I drove down to North Carolina for Thanksgiving and found a diesel mechanic nearby who was willing to work on my Delica. I called ahead the week before and the mechanic had no reservations about working on it. I braced myself for a different tune when I pulled up to the shop. Luckily my reservations were unfounded. After a day and a half in the shop I had a fresh timing belt,water pump, thermostat along with new UV joints and transmission seal. Big sigh of relief. The old belts still had life in them once I inspected them after removal, but the peace of mind I have now was worth the cost.
Best part was the bill was roughly half of what I had prepared myself for. Under $1000 American clams! Gotta chuckle as the highly regarded mechanic up here in Brooklyn shook his head and called it a monster job! All I saw was $$$$$$$ signs floating in my face. The 450 mile trip home was super smooth and uneventful. Just how I like it.
The mechanic recommended installation of a straight pipe exhaust as a starting point for getting some more oomph. That's my next mod along with a K&N filter. Thanks to all the posters who offered up the sound advice! And, Phil I nodded my head in agreement to your comment "can't or don't want to?"

philmeup1 · Post by **philmeup1** » Thu Dec 01, 2016 8:06 am

Hey Captain America, Glad you found a decent mechanic to work on your Delica. If he's not too far from where you live, I'd recommend using him for all of your mechanical needs. I had the same service done as you just did with my Volkswagen mechanic a few years ago as I wanted peace of mind. It's been nothing but miles of smiles ever since.

On the same topic, I also have an old high school friend whom I'm very close with. He own his own shop and is the nicest guy in the world. But when I told him I was contemplating buying one of these vehicles, he got a little prickly with me. He actually got mad (which he never does) and said, You buy one of these Fu@king things, I won't even fu@king touch it!! I just thanked him and said, That's great, because I certainly don't want someone working on my vehicle with that kind of attitude.....

Like that saying goes, The mind is like a parachute. It works best when it's open!!

Anyone with a Delica near Peterborough, Ontario Canada that needs work done, Peterborough Volkswagen is the place to go:)

Morgonzo · Post by **Morgonzo** » Thu Dec 01, 2016 11:52 am

Hey Captain, glad to know you got it all sussed out! The Wife and I were in Asheville that weekend after thanksgiving, not with the Deli since it's not running right now but with the white '92 CCLB F350 (aka Stay-Puff'd)

Care to name the shop? Asheville isn't too far from me...be nice to know of a place that's not scared to work on a Delica, although when i need the help most it's not drivable

but I guess I could just tow it.

Captain America · Post by **Captain America** » Thu Dec 15, 2016 8:24 pm

Gonzo,
Sorry for the delayed response. The name of the shop is Robs Diesel Repair in Williamston NC. Unfortunately it's probably over 4 hours from there to Asheville though. I do recommend him and will use him again when I make my next trip down there from my home in Brooklyn NY.
As an aside concerning belts, I provided all the parts for the timing belt job along with ac, alternator belts etc. The non timing belts were gates brand purchased from Amazon matching the part numbers I found on this forum. I am getting some belt squeak and according to chat on this site I would be best served by getting genuine Mitsubishi belts the next time around. Lesson learned.