Where is the timing belt located on a 1994 Plymouth Sundance?

Answer 1

On a '94 Sundance with a 2.5L non-turbo engine like mine, there is a plastic cover at the left (your left as you are looking at it) of the valve cover. The timing belt is under that. The belt goes down and around the crankshaft. In order to change or adjust the belt, you have to first undo the negative battery terminal, then jack up the front passenger side and remove the wheel and belt splash guard. Remove all of the accessory belts (Power Steering, a/c, and water pump/alternator belt). Take the a/c compressor off (don't disconnect the coolant lines, just move the compressor out of the way. Then you have to unbolt the alternator and remove the aluminum bracket that the compressor and alternator were bolted to. After that, undo the five bolts on the crankshaft pulley. This should allow you to remove the plastic timing belt covers, both lower and upper. This will expose the timing belt. In order to remove or adjust the belt, make sure you have all the timing marks lined up. You can use the bolt on the end of the crankshaft sprocket and a wrench to turn the engine over until all the timing marks (camshaft sprocket, secondary sprocket and flywheel marks) are in the correct position with the #1 piston at TDC. Loosen the tensioner and adjust the belt to the correct position. If you are going to replace it, remove the tensioner and slide the belt off the sprockets. This may take some jimmying. To get the belt off and a new one on, you need to undo the bolts that fasten the engine mount to the frame. After the bolts are removed, place a jack under the oil pan and lift up the engine until you have enough space to get the belt around the engine mount. Put the new belt on, making sure it is lined up properly. Even if it is one tooth off, it could do permanent damage to your engine or at the very least, won't allow the engine to start. Use the timing marks to get the valve and ignition timing correct. You can check to make sure the valves aren't interfering with the pistons by removing the spark plugs to allow the engine to rotate freely and using the bolt on the end of the crankshaft to turn the engine two full revolutions. If you feel resistance, then recheck how the belt is lined up. Once you have the correct timing, put your car back together and make sure it runs properly. Consult a repair manual and make sure you know what you're doing before you begin. Here is a good resource I've found for automotive repair : http://arrc.epnet.com/autoasp/index.asp?sid=12354172&uid=s6255977.remote.autorefctr