Water Pump Belt Replacement

[Chiveroni]

Good morning everyone

I’m going to replace the air filter and belts today (and give the engine bay a good spruce up). I have all the tools and it’s pretty clear what to do. But I have a question regarding the water pump belt removal / fitting. I’ll be rotating the pulley using the correct sized socket and a long breaker bar plus a belt remover shim / tool. Any consideration regarding the gearbox? Does it need to be in neutral? My thinking is, if I’m turning the pulley, will I be cranking the engine and turning the gearbox?

I hope this question isn’t causing too much eye rolling so early on a Sunday

 

[philw696]

Good morning everyone

I’m going to replace the air filter and belts today (and give the engine bay a good spruce up). I have all the tools and it’s pretty clear what to do. But I have a question regarding the water pump belt removal / fitting. I’ll be rotating the pulley using the correct sized socket and a long breaker bar plus a belt remover shim / tool. Any consideration regarding the gearbox? Does it need to be in neutral? My thinking is, if I’m turning the pulley, will I be cranking the engine and turning the gearbox?

I hope this question isn’t causing too much eye rolling so early on a Sunday

No leave it in park for safety and carry on.

 

[Chiveroni]

No leave it in park for safety and carry on.

Great - thanks for the quick response!

 

[Devonboy]

Good morning everyone

I’m going to replace the air filter and belts today (and give the engine bay a good spruce up). I have all the tools and it’s pretty clear what to do. But I have a question regarding the water pump belt removal / fitting. I’ll be rotating the pulley using the correct sized socket and a long breaker bar plus a belt remover shim / tool. Any consideration regarding the gearbox? Does it need to be in neutral? My thinking is, if I’m turning the pulley, will I be cranking the engine and turning the gearbox?

I hope this question isn’t causing too much eye rolling so early on a Sunday

Good luck…..let us know how it all goes

 

[rs48635]

^^^ what the real technicians said.
From memory the QP belt change is remarkably simple. In your case even more so as you are changing air filter. Think I removed the whole airbox so I could see what was going on.
From a novice - take pictures (before removing belt)

 

[conaero]

Needs to be in neutral or you will stress it…well that’s how I have been taught

 

[philw696]

Needs to be in neutral or you will stress it…well that’s how I have been taught

Sorry Matt but that was not what I was taught.

 

[Chiveroni]

Mission accomplished! Both belts changed relatively painless! I cut the existing water pump belt to remove it and just cranked (in Park) to fit the new one. The biggest pain was the socket kept slipping off the nut on the pulley. Not sure if someone rounded it slightly in the past but the new belt went on OK. Also changed the air filter at the same time, replaced a faulty washer jet ( < £6 on eBay) and gave the engine bay a bit of clean whilst I was at it.

It certainly was beneficial having a friend helping out - wouldn't have been so easy with just one pair of hands.

Whilst the engine cover was off I noticed, on both sides of the brake the brake fluid reservoir, a bracket with nothing attached to it and a clip holding nothing - can anyone shed any light as to what the brackets and clip are for? Do I have an original reservoir or has someone replaced it?



Thanks everyone!