1 Answer

From the internet http://www.automotivehelper.com/topic1015166.htm

IIRC the recommended mileage is around 100k. One thing to remember on this 3.0 engine is that it is a NON INTERFERENCE engine so if the belt happens to break it will not do any piston or valve damage. I did not change on my 94 until 180k ( water pump leaked), 99 had 195k before it broke.

2- I have done it on my 94 and 99, takes about 9 hours including water pump and thermostat replacement at the same time.

3- Some do change pump and some do not, I recommend to change for the reason that you have it all apart anyway to change belt. (How many miles on the vehicle???? If you do change pump and can afford it get a NEW water pump instead of remanufactored.

4- Consider changing the timing belt tensioner when changing belt. Defiantely change thermostat when belt is off, lots easier when everything is removed. I used rtv silicone instead of gaskets on both thermostat and water pump.

If you do not have air impact wrench to remove harmonic balancer bolt, use a IIRC a 24mm socket and breaker bar and tie it to the a frame or something solid, disconnect the distributor or fuel pump fuse to make sure it will not start and use the starter to break the bolt loose. I used a harmonc balancer puller but I bekieve you should be able to jsut remove the harmonic ballaner without it.

You do not need to remove the #1 spark plug to do this job. In case you want to remove remove plugs be very careful as they tend to freeze to the head because of the metal differences and can break off very easily, soak with penetrating oil and heat up engine a little to help break plugs loose and also rotate the plug back and forth helps.

Installing timing belt: line up the crank sprocket mark with the mark on the oil pump, then there should be 43 ribs on the belt to the properly aligned right camshaft (toward radiator) camshaft mark should align with mark on back cover and then 40 ribs to left camshaft sprocket (same markings). The new belt should also have marks on the belt for alignment. I used some white out to mark the cam sprocket and belt to help with easier alignment.

Another thing I did once I had the belt on is place the large washer on the outside of the crank sprocket along with the harmonic balance bolt and started the engine for about 15 seconds just to make sure everything was properly aligned and ran ok. ALso when you run the engine once you have refilled the coolant if you can have the vehicle at a incline it will help to burp the system or you could also install a piece of wire ushaped on the radiator cap to hold the spring up to let the air into coolant resorvoir.

GO to the online factory service manual thread on top of villager main page, it will help with any other questions you may have. Also feel free to ask if it doesn't make sense to you.

A good 1/4" drive rackets and both deep and shallow sockets are your friends for removing the timing belt covers. There are also a couple length bolts on the covers, make note of where they go.