Hello All,

I am planning to replace the timming chain tensioner through the small cover, this weekend.

I will appreciate any advice and heads up from the people who have done this before.

Mine is 98, how do I make sure that the piece (piston?) won't fall down when I remove the screw from the tensioner.

Any idea regarding the size of the screw head?

And I am concerned changing the tensioner only without changing the guide, causes malfunction since tensioner and guide work as mating parts.

Please help.

Thank You,

 

I tried that about a year ago. I ordered the part number I found on one of the how-to threads. Got around to removing the old tensioner, put in the new tensioner but the piston won't line up right with the old guide. I compared them side by side and they are different. I might be able to dig up some pictures. I end up selling the tensioner+guide here.

A couple points that might help you along the way: drain the power steering reservoir by disconnecting one of the hoses and you'll be able to flip the container out of the way. You'll have more room to work with that way. Have some RTV sealer on hand when you install the access hole cover. To keep the piston from falling out, take the pin that comes with the new tensioner and insert it into the little hole after you push the piston in with a screwdriver or something. You can also use a paperclip or pushpin or whatever thin enough...

 

here's what i received from courtesy parts



here you can see the pistons don't line up after i aligned the two mounting holes

 

here you can see the new piston doesn't stick out and hit the guide at the contact point where its suppose to.

 

Good info. I need to do mine soon.

 

thank you Maximus 96, I am hoping that since mine is 98, the guide is the new revision already.

cheers,

 

well, on a 95, how hard would it be to replace the tensioner and guide together? Would I rather be better off just getting it done by a mechanic?

 

to replace the guide you'll need to remove the timing chain cover.

 

oh if you have the new version that it should be piece of cake...good luck

 

Do you know when the guide was switched? I have a 97 and I'm deciding which parts to order. I'd rather not order a guide if I don't have to.

Thanks

 

it comes with tensioner and guide, i don't think you can order them separate.

 

I mentioned some of this in another thread, but I'll put it here. This is the response i got from the local dealer:

"THERE ARE THREE TENSIONERS THE LOWER TENSIONER RUNS 73.18 PART NUMBER
13070-31U03 THE UPPER TENSIONERS ARE 66.53 ALSO
PART NUMBERS 13070-AL51B AND 13070-AL51A THEY ARE FOR THE UPPER CHAIN"

RockAuto sells 13070-31U03 for about $44 so I'm hoping it's what I need. This is what it looks like from their site, which seems to match the other pictures you folks posted: