Tool hire for VANOS replacement
- Thread starter Dr. Zed
- Start date
bigwinn said:
So this is my take on water pump and thermostat replacement. Others will have different routes/techniques etc. If you do this as part of VANOS it will be easier as you'll be replacing/removing the front of the engine stuff...
Deffo consider replacing your expansion tank while the system is drained!
Best video how to here: https://youtu.be/YKphkCyEccs
Get the front of the car up- suggest ramps
Remove front slam panel- plastic rivets and T27x2
Remove fan/shroud: LHS there is a T30 screw and RHS a pop rivet- undo the 2 electrical connectors (worth checking the green wire on the main connector on the left) and lift the fan out.
You can remove the air box- not totally necessary but gives more room
The pulley housing on the water pump- before you take the belts off, loosen but don't remove the 10mm (x4) bolts
Remove the 2 aux belts- AC and aux. Before you take them off draw a diagram- will help you put them back on! AC first: on the idler there is a round cover- pop it off. Insert a Torx or socket for the size, turn against the tension and pop the belt off. On the aux- same principle pop the cover off on the idler and (IIRC) insert a T50 into the tensioner, again hold against the tension and pop the belt off.
Take the pulley off the water pump. Undo the 4 bolts on the water pump. Use threaded bolts as per the video to drive the pump away from the face of the block- you'll now be getting wet! BUT you cant get the water pump out yet because of that wonderful cross member.
Next do the thermostat- undo the hoses, undo the bolts and away- v simple
The video is worth watching now- undo the N/S engine bolt (16mm) and jack the engine block up using a jack and wooden block. Clear the threaded part of the engine mount by approx 1" and you should now have clearance to get the old pump out. Refitting is the reverse!
I was dubious and frankly worried about the procedure- however now I've done it 3 times its a breeze- one of the more complex but worthwhile jobs!
Drop me a line for more info or if you get stuck!
Cheers
Stuart
Good write up from Stuart.
As he says, the belts are coming off anyway, hence my addition to your list of new belts.
Only difference I would suggest is that if you are doing the Vanos at the same time, it is beneficial to undo the offside engine mount instead, as that allows a bit of wiggle room for removing the Vanos and lining it all up again when you put it back together. I found it so much easier to lift the engine so I could see more clearly into the recesses, especially for fitting the tiddly screws and the covering caps.
All will become clear once you get the fan off and eye it all up.
I think I left the thermostat refit until last, to give maximum room for the Vanos work.
Main thing is, don't need the car for a day or two afterwards, so you can take your time and shout for help if you need it.
As he says, the belts are coming off anyway, hence my addition to your list of new belts.
Only difference I would suggest is that if you are doing the Vanos at the same time, it is beneficial to undo the offside engine mount instead, as that allows a bit of wiggle room for removing the Vanos and lining it all up again when you put it back together. I found it so much easier to lift the engine so I could see more clearly into the recesses, especially for fitting the tiddly screws and the covering caps.
All will become clear once you get the fan off and eye it all up.
I think I left the thermostat refit until last, to give maximum room for the Vanos work.
Main thing is, don't need the car for a day or two afterwards, so you can take your time and shout for help if you need it.
bigwinn said:
Thanks Stuart! Sorry for the delay in replying. Was in Holland till yesterday night.
Really appreciate the write up. I'll be sure to give you feedback once I do the work mate
.EDIT: (Looking for more info) I notice that you mention that the system will be drained. I take it the system will be drained from doing the water pump and therefore it's a good time to replace the coolant too?
As for the belts, can you indicate which ones I need new ones for and what brand I'm looking for?
Dr. Zed said:bigwinn said:
Thanks Stuart! Sorry for the delay in replying. Was in Holland till yesterday night.
Really appreciate the write up. I'll be sure to give you feedback once I do the work mate
EDIT: (Looking for more info) I notice that you mention that the system will be drained. I take it the system will be drained from doing the water pump and therefore it's a good time to replace the coolant too?
As for the belts, can you indicate which ones I need new ones for and what brand I'm looking for?
100% an opportunity to change the coolant
Belts as per what Martin says
When you thinking of doing it?
bigwinn said:
Not sure yet. My mate is helping me as we're thinking of making a day of it so whenever he's free really. I also need his drive. I have communal parking at my apartment. I do some work here but wouldn't feel it's appropriate to be doing something as involved as VANOS there. I'm hoping that he'll be free at some point in September and not extend it into October!
enuff_zed said:
Not yet. I'm planning on spraying them mind not wrapping them. I've wrapped the dash and centre console. Currently going around spraying everything else black.
I wouldn't imagine the steering wheel trims would be that hard (especially after doing the dash etc) but personally not sure it'd hold up with the constant handling.
If you're looking for covering the blemishes etc then I'd recommend just plastidipping it. I've done my spoiler and kidney grilles and the bits inside the centre console and stuff is amazing.
Beginning to think it might be worth getting this done on mine watching this thread, just ticked over 82k recently. Car still pulls nicely, engine has always felt strong since I bought it on 70k ish, but I guess as others have said with nothing to compare to it would be difficult to tell if there was a problem... not sure I'm brave enough to attempt it on the driveway!
enuff_zed said:Still one space left on Stuart's.JamesClements said:
(He's going to love me for this.)
sounds like he's got enough zeds on his drive already (mind you there are worse problems to have!) Might attempt it over the winter when she's all tucked up anyway
JamesClements said:
James I am a total advocate of doing it:
1) you'll not notice the degradation over time, but when sorted its amazing the difference
2) your car ALWAYS drives better when you've done work to it, its an unwritten law!!!
Seriously its not hard to do if you are fairly competent with spanners- but happy to help in any way
