1998 Forester 2.5L; Timing belt, cams ... trouble

[slacktide_bitog]

1998 Forester EJ25D replacing water pump and timing belt, and there are a lot of problems!

A timing cover bolt was missing
A water pump bolt is missing

(I didn't lose them. They weren't there in the first place)

The water pump won't come off!

EDIT: I did in fact miss one of the lower bolts. It came right off.

Also, while trying to get the water pump off, the driver's side cams jumped out of alignment, and I can't realign them! All the marks lined up perfect even after removing the timing belt, but all of the sudden, when I was trying to get the water pump off, the cams got out of alignment! Driver's side, Cylinders 2 and 4, the even numbers

The passenger side cylinders 1 and 3 are fine. Everything is still lined up.

 

[KGMtech]

The cams might have rotated a bit, but not as much as you fear. Rotate to line up again and secure and then scrutinize the waterpump again for a bolt that might have been overlooked. Relax.

 

[slacktide_bitog]

The cams might have rotated a bit, but not as much as you fear. Rotate to line up again and secure and then scrutinize the waterpump again for a bolt that might have been overlooked. Relax.

I did end up missing a water pump bolt. I took it off, and the water pump came right off

 

[cptbarkey]

The timing cover is optional. It looks cool when off anyway. Ebay probably has replacements but who cares. Just dont put your fingers in the blender

 

[slacktide_bitog]

Now trying to install the water pump, 2 bolts will not tighten and seem like they will spin forever

Will the water pump be ok with just 4 of the 6 bolts torques down and the other 2 free spinning? Or will it leak?

It's getting dark now, and it's going to be cold for awhile, so I don't know when I'll be able to finish it.

No bolts are broken, All 6 bolts are the same size.

 

[Donald]

Now trying to install the water pump, 2 bolts will not tighten and seem like they will spin forever

Will the water pump be ok with just 4 of the 6 bolts torques down and the other 2 free spinning? Or will it leak?

It's getting dark now, and it's going to be cold for awhile, so I don't know when I'll be able to finish it.

No bolts are broken, All 6 bolts are the same size.

Are the two free spinning bolts next to each other?

 

[slacktide_bitog]

Are the two free spinning bolts next to each other?

No, they are not next to each other. There is one bolt in between them that is torqued perfect,

 

[Trav]

Are all the bolts the same length, it is possible some are shorter or longer? If all the same the threads may have pulled when it was removed and it/they needs a helicoil.

 

[Chris142]

See if you can find a couple of slightly longer bolts to put where the ones that don't tighten go.

 

[HemiBenny]

If any of the bolts on that water pump are free spinning while the others are grabbing, there’s nothing for the spinning bolts to grab ahold of. The threads are shot.

 

[ClutchDisc]

I would not run it with missing bolts on a water pump. That is too high of a risk in my opinion. You probably need to tap those to a larger size bolt.

 

[D60]

Was there evidence of carnage on the threads? Seems suspect to me two did this?

Pull the pump and try starting bolts in the holes in question

 

[slacktide_bitog]

Was there evidence of carnage on the threads? Seems suspect to me two did this?

Pull the pump and try starting bolts in the holes in question

No evidence of carnage on any of the threads. All 6 bolts are identical.

 

[zzyzzx]

Will you be changing the head gasket as well?

 

[slacktide_bitog]

Will you be changing the head gasket as well?

No, there is no need for that at this time.

 

[cptbarkey]

You likely stripped the threads. Its easy to do with aluminum. Pay attention to torque values, the water pump isnt that tight.

 

[Trav]

You likely stripped the threads. Its easy to do with aluminum. Pay attention to torque values, the water pump isnt that tight.

I figured the threads may have pulled when the bolts were removed. With such easy access just putting 6 helicoils in is a simple enough job and never have that problem again. There is a good chance some of the others may spin when torqued down, small diameter bolts in aluminum threads are very weak threads.

 

[slacktide_bitog]

You likely stripped the threads. Its easy to do with aluminum. Pay attention to torque values, the water pump isnt that tight.

I used a torque wrench

 

[CleanSump]

Let me be Mr. Obvious here. If you don't fix the threads, it's going to leak. Too paraphrase my wife; talking about it isn't going to get it done.

 

[SubieRubyRoo]

Let me be Mr. Obvious here. If you don't fix the threads, it's going to leak. Too paraphrase my wife; talking about it isn't going to get it done.

Your wife sounds like…. mine.