I'm in the middle of a timing belt change and have an issue: with the cam locking bar installed, I was able to loosen the bolt holding the passenger side cam sprocket and turn the bolt 3 times by hand as per the blauparts instructions.

However, when I loosened the driver's side cam sprocket bolt, it felt like it was cross threaded on the inside. Then, turning counterclockwise or clockwise, the bolt feels like it's going to sheer.

I went ahead and popped the sprockets of both cams, released tension from the belt tensioner, and removed the belt. I was hoping popping the driver's side cam would free up the bolt -- it didn't

I'm stuck. How can I loosen or tighten that cam bolt without shearing it?

 

Did you have any luck with that bolt? I hope one of the guy's who has done this job will chime in to help. I haven't done it yet, so I'm afraid I don't have any helpful suggestions.

 

Not sure if this helps, because I have a 1.8T, but I would attempt to remove the bolt. If the head snaps off, remove the rest with a drill and E-Z Outs, or some other form of extractor. Then replace the bolt with a new one...

 

Wait.. Why would you loosen the bolt on the cam sprocket?

 

So I just succesfully finished the timing belt job 20 minutes ago. All and all not bad.

The cam sprocket bolt, even with the cam locking bar in place, was seized and spinning the cam. I popped the valve cover off, and sure enough, even though the keyed diamond-shaped plate was locked with the bar and appeared to be/felt secured to the cam, the cam was spinning once I started putting a lot of torque on the bolt. Shearing the bolt would have sucked, because the bolt is about 5 inches long and would have belt tough to drill out.

I had planned on replacing the cam seals and cam tensioner seals on that side of the engine, but just skipped it (I did replace the leaky cam cap on the back of the head though) and torqued back down the cam bolt as part of the timing belt procedure.

I replaced all the cam seals and cam adjuster seals on the other engine bank.

 

So, you kicked the problem down the road for a future owner?

Sounds like the Minnesota State Legislature!

 

hehe -- since I'm going to be the final owner of this car I don't feel bad. The cam cap (the one conveniently positioned over the exhaust pipe) was the major offender on that bank.

Been driving for a couple days now and no more burning oil smoke from the engine bay. I can go on a date again

 

Who's the lucky guy?

 

Very funny. Pretty damn embarassing to have your engine smoking at every stop light, but problem solved.

 

Lol sorry I couldn't resist.