How to Replace a Saab Timing Belt
Occasionally you must replace the timing belt on your Saab because of wear or damage. Saab recommends that as a matter of maintenance you replace the belts approximately every 60,000 miles. The procedures for changing the timing belt are standard on most Saab models, including the 9000 series V-6 3.0 liter engine. For specific instructions regarding your Saab model, refer to your owner's manual. You can replace the timing belt in about four to six hours.
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Things You'll Need
- Floor jack
- Jack stand
- Lug wrench
- Metric socket wrench set
- Camshaft locks
Instructions
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1
Lift up the front passenger side of your Saab with a floor jack, and slide a jack stand under the front passenger side axle, then lower the floor jack until the vehicle is resting on the jack stand.
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2
Remove the front passenger tire of your car by using a lug wrench to loosen the lug nuts; place the tire and lug nuts in a safe location.
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3
Disconnect the front fender wheel cover by pulling it away from the vehicle frame and detaching the plastic snap pins from the pinholes in the frame.
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4
Place a socket between the engine frame and the oil pan to keep the engine in place, then locate the upper engine mount support bracket at the front of the engine.
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5
Disconnect the upper engine mount support bracket with a socket wrench from the engine block and the frame, and move it out of the way.
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6
Loosen the bolts on the water pump and the power steering pump with a socket wrench just enough to loosen up the timing belt.
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7
Take the tension off the timing belt by using a 15 mm socket wrench on the tensioner pulley bolt, then remove the belt tensioner as well as the water pump and power steering pulleys.
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8
Detach the air intake pipe on the top of the alternator with a socket wrench, and remove it.
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9
Locate the lower engine mount bracket, and disconnect it using a socket wrench. Unfasten all the outer timing cover bolts with the socket wrench, leaving the center bolt attached.
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10
Locate the timing marks on the camshaft sprocket, just above the crankshaft and the timing cover, that run sideways across the edge of the parts.
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11
Rotate the crankshaft clockwise by placing a socket wrench on the middle bolt and turning it until the timing marks on the camshaft sprocket and the timing cover line up.
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12
Place camshaft locks on both sides of the engine banks in the front at the camshafts to lock them in place and keep them from turning.
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13
Disconnect the idler pulleys at the tensioner with a socket wrench, and remove the pulleys and the timing belt from the front of the engine.
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14
Attach new idler pulleys, tensioner and timing belt on the front of the engine, and align the white marks on the camshaft sprocket with the timing belt marks.
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15
Verify that the crankshaft and camshaft timing marks are still lined up, and remove the camshaft locks.
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16
Reattach the outer screws on the timing cover, then connect the lower engine mounting bracket to the engine.
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17
Connect the air intake pipe at the top of the alternator, and tighten the tensioner bolt.
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18
Tighten the bolts on the water pump and power steering pump, then adjust the tensioner bolt until the timing chain is tight.
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19
Reattach the upper engine mount support bracket, and remove the socket from between the oil pan and vehicle frame.
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20
Reinstall the fender wheel cover by snapping the pins back into the pinholes on the frame.
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21
Reattach the tire on the front passenger side, then lift the Saab up with the floor jack and remove the jack stand from under the front axle.
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22
Lower the car to the ground. Start the engine and verify that the timing belt is operating properly, then shut the engine off.
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Tips & Warnings
To avoid burns or other injuries, allow the engine of your Saab to cool down before attempting to change the timing belt.
