After my sunday afternoon drive my car got really hot really fast. I noticed a squieking noise from the belt and just figured they needed tightened again. The fans are running, has fluid and all seems well except when I squeeze the upper hose I don't feel any flow. Water pump? and if so how easy are they to change? Belt seems tight also.
alaskaneon
09-09-2007, 06:02 PM
no flow in the upper hose can mean that your thermostat hasn't opened up.
dodgeneonACR98
09-09-2007, 08:07 PM
I would try to replace the thermostat first like Alaska said. If it's the water pump, you are in for some work. Just as well buy a new timebelt b4 you start. All that has to come off. The motor mount, timebelt and covers pulleys ect.
rice_eater
09-10-2007, 03:00 PM
Your radiator cap is bad. Its not sealing properly and your coolant system isnt pressurizing. Replace the cap.
Which belt is squeeling? The timing belt drives the water pump, and it's notched for the timing gears - shouldnt squeel. Squeeling belt is *usually* the alternator belt on neons.
scottrachel01
09-10-2007, 03:35 PM
I'm going to remove the thermostat to see if I get flow before I assume the worst but from what I find it doesn't look good. 1.steam was coming from in the timing belt cover and 2. my chiltons states that when the bearings go out of the pump they sound as if the belts are squealing and 3. anti freeze was dripping from the bottom of the timing belt cover.
HoodooGuru
09-10-2007, 08:31 PM
Sohc's are crap to do work on as they are mounted so close to the side of the engine bay. Its a bugger of a job to do, its so tight in there. And, the timing belt cover is an absolute cow to get off! I got sick of trying on mine and just smashed the thing off! lol. Looks cooler now being able to see the cam gear spinning! lol
rice_eater
09-12-2007, 12:27 AM
Umm SOHC's and DOHC's are the same block hoodoo... that means they're both a pain to work on lol.
scottrachel - just make sure you get that thing changed before it locks up and snaps your timing belt. Although if that happened you wouldn't need to worry about fixing the pump... you'd be looking at an engine transplant.
HoodooGuru
09-12-2007, 12:33 AM
Yes, but the top mount is different on a sohc to a dohc. The sohc's seem to be alot closer to the wheel arch.
scottrachel01
09-12-2007, 07:11 AM
Its down for the winter or until I get the money to send it to a mechanic or the kahunas to try it myself. I've got a van to drive so I don't have to hurry, but I sure miss my "rolling green turd".I just had that engine put in 4 months ago.
alaskaneon
09-12-2007, 02:01 PM
It's not that bad Scott, if you have an average set of tools you can do it. You will need a 3 jaw puller to get the crank pulley off,which you can borrow, rent, buy and a dry place to work on it. Get yourself a manuel, if you don't already have one and an underdrive pulley to put in the crank pulley's place. If I would have known any better I'd have replaced the timing belt when i did my underdrive pulley. I think you will find that the crank pulley is the hardest part of the job. water pump bolts on and the timing belt is a snap too. You can read and look at the pictures of when I replaced the crank to underdrive pulley in past threads and learn from my agony. I'd have no problems doing it again! lol! Hindsight is golden! If you do it yourself you'll feel great about it and your wife will think you are a stud for being able to take care of it yourself. Get er done!!
scottrachel01
09-12-2007, 02:42 PM
My biggest fear is trying to get both cams and the crank all lined up. Before I bought the motor someone had replaced the timing belt but it was one notch off at the crank. It would only rev to 6400 rpm then drop off. I have a haynes and if nothing else I'll have to fly you down from the ice berg. lol. Besides its a great reason the get my underdrive pulley I want. (mpx)
alaskaneon
09-12-2007, 03:19 PM
That as well is no problem. On both gears there should be a little circle indent. you mark the engine block or whatever is close exactly where the gear mark is before you take the old timing belt off. That way it goes back on the same. If your car is up on blocks and you are careful not to move anything while swapping the belt for a new one you shouldn't have any problems.
HoodooGuru
09-12-2007, 07:38 PM
The worst job doing a 2 gen sohc is getting the flat side motor mount out! The mount that is part of the power steering tensioner. Believe me Alaska its a bugger of a job! Just u wait............just u wait!
alaskaneon
09-12-2007, 08:29 PM
Dude, they must have made a different mount system on those aussie cars cause I'm at a loss as to what you're talking about. :) The bottom and top mounts don't have to come off that I remember and the powersteering tensioner is a bolt on...what am i missing??
donald7150
09-12-2007, 09:47 PM
I just tried to look up info on my service manual. I can see most everything for export caravans (GS and RG body) but the export neon is also the PL body same as the US and canadian cars. and doesnt show anything different
HoodooGuru
09-12-2007, 09:51 PM
My manuel said to take the mount off for easy access. This was the first t/belt I had done so I did it! Sucked. TOTALLY sucked. I won't do one again.
rice_eater
09-13-2007, 01:45 AM
Hoodoo, you know what your problem is? You have a 2nd Gen... :P
The mounts are not different between DOHC and SOHC cars, they are different between 1st Gen and 2nd Gen. ;)
alaskaneon
09-13-2007, 04:56 PM
:wht: :wht: :wht:
HoodooGuru
09-13-2007, 06:41 PM
That too rice! lol
scottrachel01
10-01-2007, 07:31 AM
Got my new pump and belt in. The pump had the inside fins wore down and the belt was cracking and splitting. Looks like I dodged a bullet!!! Waiting on an UDP. I "accidently"(on purpose) bent up my pulley so I could justify buying a UDP. It was my first timing belt so it took about 7 times to get the belt on right,I've got it down now though.The only troubles I had was keeping my son away from the paint with the screw drivers, he wanted to "help". I wouldn't have it any other way!!!
tattoojack
10-04-2007, 04:12 PM
anyone know who has the non-bake udp's? i heard about one somewhere that you didn't have to heat up to get on. it was an allen key or something?
alaskaneon
10-04-2007, 09:10 PM
you don't need to heat any of them up. myth. Get a 3 jaw pulley, back the center bolt out a half inch and push against it until the pulley wont move anymore, repeat process until pulley falls on the floor. They are all a friction fit and the center bolt just makes sure it doesn't go anywhere. Install new udp with an impact.
tattoojack
10-05-2007, 02:48 AM
sweet! :rck:
scottrachel01
10-05-2007, 07:14 AM
I got my UDP and belts yesterday and last night after church I got it all back together. The UDP is a great investment!! It feels a little more peppy! The only issue I've got is the belt they sent for the alt was a hair too long, I'm adjusted all the way out and it is still a little loose and squeals sometimes. I'm off on monday so I'll go to the store and get another one a little shorter.It's Alive!!!
tattoojack
10-05-2007, 02:15 PM
any major probs you wanna share before i do mine?
scottrachel01
10-05-2007, 03:28 PM
Nothing major....get a book and keep it handy,lay everything out in order and take your time. It was a learning experience for me so. It feels good knowing that you got it done and saved big money to buy other stuff with. For me, the money I saved by doing it myself I bought the UDP.I proabably removed more than I needed(steering pump,hoses,etc.) but it was so I could see and get to everything easier.Good luck and keep us posted. -scott
scottrachel01
10-10-2007, 07:11 AM
Update... shredded my alt. belt- didn't have the pulley all the way home. TIP: use a straight bar to make sure the pulley is all the way back,mine was off about 1/8 of an inch. TIP: add a little(I repeat)a little grease between the head of the bolt and the pulley to take away the friction so you can get the pulley on all the way. It's all back together and seems to be all ok.
alaskaneon
10-10-2007, 01:53 PM
That's why its better to install the bolt and pulley with an impact wrench, if you have one. Just be careful to not tighten too tight (turn air psi down to 100 or whatever the torque speck is) air impact will rattle the pulley all the way back without having to secure the pulley as you tighten like you did with a regular socket wrench. Double check your torque with a torque wrench.
