You’re the only person on UA-cam that does a 3.0 Saturn Vue/Saab engine timing belt perfectly. I’m doing the timing belt on mine in the morning. Thank you for this video man.
Great video, I did mine in March 24 and your vid was very helpful. It's run six months now so I'm declaring success. One comment is the cam locks had very THICK paint on them and I burnished it off with a wire wheel and they go in much easier.
@@billm6294 I’m glad the video helped you, I’m also glad that your Saturn is cruising along nicely. They definitely put thick paint on those camlock, it would be my one complaint as well. I think it makes it harder to get everything to line up. Thanks for watching!
Thanks, that means a lot! It’s not a bad job, if your your mechanically inclined, but I’m sure you can find a good mechanic locally. Thanks for watching 😊
Not a fun job to do in a parking lot! I got frustrated enough in a garage. Props to you and I hope it keeps running for a LONG time. Glad I could help.
@@cloudsith69 this is the only one that I could find. I think it’s gonna be harder to find this kit, considering the fact that there are less and less of these cars on the road every year. Petrol Engine Timing Tool Kit,7pcs Engine Timing Tool Set Aluminum High Strength Replacement for SAAB V6 3.0L 3.2L Petrol Engine a.co/d/3ffhRv4
thanks to your video, i was confident enough to change out my timing belt and water pump on my 01 l300. one of the tensioners locked up, and i don't know how it didn't break the belt.
Well, I’m glad that my video helped you out. Really glad that your timing belt didn’t break, I’ve done cylinder heads on mine and it’s not exactly a fun job. Really glad you have your L300 still on the road! Thank you for taking time to watch.
I was hoping to get a more clear look at the timing mark on the #4 cam. The belt has the alignment mark on the top of the gear tooth, and the mark on the gear is on the low section. I was also hopi.g for a clear indicator that the white marks were for 3 and 4 cams, and the yellow were for 1 and 2 (and crank. For some reason, the gates belt i bought for my 3.0 has a bunch of other marks on it (i assume for other vehicles). Very thorough video log otherwise. Thank you for your service. It was reassuring for me, and will be helpful for others, no doubt.
Not sure if I know exactly what you’re looking for, but the #3 and #4 cam gears are interchangeable. So if you look on the end of the sprocket, there’s going to be a four stamped into it with a timing mark and the three with a timing mark. Is it by chance lined up to the wrong one?
I just acquired an 02 vue with 80k miles. I highly foubt it has ever been replaced. In your opinion, should i just do it immediately? I may use the car to drive to work a few hours each way once a week. Railroad traveling job. I have other vehicles to drive in the mean time. This just kinda popped up, a buddy needed $, and car is in good shape. Considering maybe just cutting a window like you did to take a peek? I have plenty of tools and havr donr quite a bit of work but never a timing belt yet. Any other advice? Thanks you!!
If it’s a 2002 and it’s never been done at any point, then, yeah I’d try and make it a priority. Otherwise you’re really just on borrowed time. But be careful cutting a little window to see through, I had my cover off of the car when I did it. But if you undo the torque bolts at the top of the cover, you can pull it back just enough to get a good peek in there. If it wasn’t an interference engine, I would say, don’t worry about it. But unfortunately, if it fails, you’re in the same position I was. I hope the car lasts a while for you though and if you have questions, let me know. Thanks for watching!
I did at one point have trouble with that and my solution was a new (used) ECM. I actually grabbed one from the junkyard and then I did the key relearn process where you turn the key on and let it sit for 10 minutes once the security light goes out you try and start the car. You do that two more times and on your third attempt, the car should start. Then your ECM is synced up with the BCM. But I was experiencing an issue where the car would run and then just die on me. If the ECM stops sending the code for the fuel injectors to work, the car does not start.
I have seen a few people use zip ties to hold the cams in position once they are aligned. This at least ensures that the cams wont accidently turn and hit the pistons. If I couldn't find a kit, that is the method I would use. I wonder if you could find someone who could 3D print it.
Oh yeah, if the timing belt breaks, it’s definitely a crapshoot. It’s worth the effort to put the timing belt on and see if you got lucky rather than just assuming it’s all bad. But if it’s bad, it’s a lot of work. I’ll be honest, I had never pulled a cylinder head off of a car up until the day I decided to on my VUE. I figured “what do I have to loose?” If you have some mechanical inclination, don’t be afraid to dive in. Good luck and thanks for watching.
On the rear cylinders closest to the firewall you have cams one and then two towards the valley of the engine. Then you have three and four with three being closer to the valley in the engine. I don’t have pictures anymore of the cam gears, but I do have pictures of the cams and their relation with the dowel pins. Let me know if you need them.
That would be awesome. I appreciate that. I guess I should have paid more attention when I tore then engine down. A broken timing belt caused a valve to break and get stuck in a piston.
@@tylerhamilton181 no problem, I just need to figure a way to send you the pictures. I don’t want you to necessarily post your email address on UA-cam.
@@michaelwilliams4974 it was about 10,000 miles before it broke again. That’s why I don’t hesitate to either a: cut a little window in the top of the timing cover so that I can see the belt regularly or B: take everything off and inspect it periodically. It’s such a nasty game of making sure it’s not too tight or too loose. But they don’t make a belt gauge to indicate proper tension for this motor.
@@michaelwilliams4974 honestly I really tighten down that belt the first time I did it. I made sure that it was parked on all of the eccentric rollers. If you could twist the belt 90°, it’s a good amount of tension. Sorry I couldn’t be more help. One day I would love to have a place to help people out, but for right now, all I can do is videos.
You’re the only person on UA-cam that does a 3.0 Saturn Vue/Saab engine timing belt perfectly. I’m doing the timing belt on mine in the morning. Thank you for this video man.
That’s why I started by channel originally. I couldn’t find any 3.0 content. Glad I could help. Hope it went well. Thank you for watching!
Great video, I did mine in March 24 and your vid was very helpful. It's run six months now so I'm declaring success. One comment is the cam locks had very THICK paint on them and I burnished it off with a wire wheel and they go in much easier.
@@billm6294 I’m glad the video helped you, I’m also glad that your Saturn is cruising along nicely. They definitely put thick paint on those camlock, it would be my one complaint as well. I think it makes it harder to get everything to line up. Thanks for watching!
You got the best video! I want to get mine changed this spring - just gotta find an experienced mechanic .
Thanks, that means a lot! It’s not a bad job, if your your mechanically inclined, but I’m sure you can find a good mechanic locally. Thanks for watching 😊
Thank you for this video godsend I get to do mine In a autozone parking g lot in the middle of winter pacific northwest .
Not a fun job to do in a parking lot! I got frustrated enough in a garage. Props to you and I hope it keeps running for a LONG time. Glad I could help.
What is the name of the tool kit u use to hold the gears in place and the timming belt part number I can't find that kit online? Thanks
@@cloudsith69 this is the only one that I could find. I think it’s gonna be harder to find this kit, considering the fact that there are less and less of these cars on the road every year.
Petrol Engine Timing Tool Kit,7pcs Engine Timing Tool Set Aluminum High Strength Replacement for SAAB V6 3.0L 3.2L Petrol Engine a.co/d/3ffhRv4
thanks to your video, i was confident enough to change out my timing belt and water pump on my 01 l300. one of the tensioners locked up, and i don't know how it didn't break the belt.
Well, I’m glad that my video helped you out. Really glad that your timing belt didn’t break, I’ve done cylinder heads on mine and it’s not exactly a fun job. Really glad you have your L300 still on the road! Thank you for taking time to watch.
Great Job I will change my belt so this video was very helpfull
Take care and thanks a Million
Glad I could help. Thanks for watching!
I was hoping to get a more clear look at the timing mark on the #4 cam. The belt has the alignment mark on the top of the gear tooth, and the mark on the gear is on the low section. I was also hopi.g for a clear indicator that the white marks were for 3 and 4 cams, and the yellow were for 1 and 2 (and crank. For some reason, the gates belt i bought for my 3.0 has a bunch of other marks on it (i assume for other vehicles). Very thorough video log otherwise. Thank you for your service. It was reassuring for me, and will be helpful for others, no doubt.
Not sure if I know exactly what you’re looking for, but the #3 and #4 cam gears are interchangeable. So if you look on the end of the sprocket, there’s going to be a four stamped into it with a timing mark and the three with a timing mark. Is it by chance lined up to the wrong one?
7 cracks per inch is max spec for the number of cracks allowed plus any sharp edges on the ribs and cord showing on the smooth side of the belt9:12
You are pretty determined
Where did you find the kit for locking in the cams?
I got it off Amazon a few years ago. I have checked and they don't carry it anymore. I'm not sure where to find one anymore.
@@copenhagenblue8417can you tell me what it is called or part number if you have it please?
I just acquired an 02 vue with 80k miles. I highly foubt it has ever been replaced. In your opinion, should i just do it immediately?
I may use the car to drive to work a few hours each way once a week. Railroad traveling job. I have other vehicles to drive in the mean time. This just kinda popped up, a buddy needed $, and car is in good shape. Considering maybe just cutting a window like you did to take a peek? I have plenty of tools and havr donr quite a bit of work but never a timing belt yet. Any other advice?
Thanks you!!
If it’s a 2002 and it’s never been done at any point, then, yeah I’d try and make it a priority. Otherwise you’re really just on borrowed time. But be careful cutting a little window to see through, I had my cover off of the car when I did it. But if you undo the torque bolts at the top of the cover, you can pull it back just enough to get a good peek in there. If it wasn’t an interference engine, I would say, don’t worry about it. But unfortunately, if it fails, you’re in the same position I was. I hope the car lasts a while for you though and if you have questions, let me know. Thanks for watching!
Have you ever had an issue with a P1629 code? It's security system related. We're chasing this stupid electrical issue on our 03 AWD 3.0 Vue.
I did at one point have trouble with that and my solution was a new (used) ECM. I actually grabbed one from the junkyard and then I did the key relearn process where you turn the key on and let it sit for 10 minutes once the security light goes out you try and start the car. You do that two more times and on your third attempt, the car should start. Then your ECM is synced up with the BCM. But I was experiencing an issue where the car would run and then just die on me. If the ECM stops sending the code for the fuel injectors to work, the car does not start.
What should I try if I can’t get the green cam lock in but my engine is in time?
I have seen a few people use zip ties to hold the cams in position once they are aligned. This at least ensures that the cams wont accidently turn and hit the pistons. If I couldn't find a kit, that is the method I would use. I wonder if you could find someone who could 3D print it.
On my kit the paint was THICK on the cam locks. I took off all the paint with a wire wheel and they went in much easier.
Is it crap shoot if timing belt breaks to getting it running again?
Oh yeah, if the timing belt breaks, it’s definitely a crapshoot. It’s worth the effort to put the timing belt on and see if you got lucky rather than just assuming it’s all bad. But if it’s bad, it’s a lot of work.
I’ll be honest, I had never pulled a cylinder head off of a car up until the day I decided to on my VUE. I figured “what do I have to loose?” If you have some mechanical inclination, don’t be afraid to dive in. Good luck and thanks for watching.
Do you happen to know what mark the cam sprockets get installed too. You can install then 180° out. There's a 1 or 2 mark.
On the rear cylinders closest to the firewall you have cams one and then two towards the valley of the engine. Then you have three and four with three being closer to the valley in the engine. I don’t have pictures anymore of the cam gears, but I do have pictures of the cams and their relation with the dowel pins. Let me know if you need them.
That would be awesome. I appreciate that. I guess I should have paid more attention when I tore then engine down. A broken timing belt caused a valve to break and get stuck in a piston.
@@tylerhamilton181 no problem, I just need to figure a way to send you the pictures. I don’t want you to necessarily post your email address on UA-cam.
will this work for the lw300 / v6 3.0
Yes, same motor. Cylinder heads are different, along with the intake manifold and valve covers. But the job should be pretty much the same. 👍🏼
I wish I could hang out with you and work on some cars together
Hey, when you made your timing belt to take the first time how long until it broke????
The first time the car had about 140,000 miles on it. But I bought the car with a broken belt.
@@copenhagenblue8417 what I’m asking is you said that you put the timing belt on the first time too tight? How long after that did it break?
I wish I had you to help me do it, right
@@michaelwilliams4974 it was about 10,000 miles before it broke again. That’s why I don’t hesitate to either a: cut a little window in the top of the timing cover so that I can see the belt regularly or B: take everything off and inspect it periodically. It’s such a nasty game of making sure it’s not too tight or too loose. But they don’t make a belt gauge to indicate proper tension for this motor.
@@michaelwilliams4974 honestly I really tighten down that belt the first time I did it. I made sure that it was parked on all of the eccentric rollers. If you could twist the belt 90°, it’s a good amount of tension. Sorry I couldn’t be more help. One day I would love to have a place to help people out, but for right now, all I can do is videos.