Saturn Idler pulley Bolt

Tiny
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  • 1998 SATURN SC1
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
98 saturn sc1. Idler pulley bolt broke off in motor. I tried to take the motor mount out and stripped the head. But, I have carpel tunnel and just had surgery today so, I just need some advice on the easiest way to fix it, without pulling the motor. Thanks
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Thursday, July 21st, 2011 AT 2:52 AM

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Tiny
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Here is a picture of it.
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Thursday, July 21st, 2011 AT 2:57 AM
Tiny
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Ok so are you still trying to take the mount out or did you get it?You said the bolt for the idler pulley broke off in the front cover? DId the nipple that goes into the bearing on the front cover break off?
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Thursday, July 21st, 2011 AT 3:05 AM
Tiny
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I thought that taking the motor mounts out would help me jack the motor up sideways so I could try to get the bolt out. But I stripped it and didn't get it out. As for the idler pulley the bolt broke off completely and the entire pulley fell off. I am trying to figure out if I can get the piece of the bolt out with out pulling the entire motor. And there are no more saturn dealerships so after I get the end of the bolt out I have to find a bolt the same size. And I guess I need to replace the whole pulley because I'm not sure what caused it to break in the first place, the belt is in great condition and everything else was working right. It broke when I cranked it to cool it off before I brought my daughter out, and when I came out it was makeing a crazy noise and when I reached in to turn the car off, it snapped broke and died.
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Thursday, July 21st, 2011 AT 3:37 AM
Tiny
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If the nuts for the mount a stripped or rounded you can get a deep twist socket for removing rounded bolts or nuts. They sell them at sears. If the bolt fell out or broke off the idler bearing could have siezed you will probably have to end up replacing the front cover on the engine you dont have to remove the engine to do that. Most of the ones I have seen with the idler falling off or coming off ended up needing a front cover.
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Thursday, July 21st, 2011 AT 4:00 PM
Tiny
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What are you talking about and how much is a "cover"? I'm confused.
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Thursday, July 21st, 2011 AT 4:25 PM
Tiny
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Are you confused about the sockets or the front cover/timing cover?The front cover/timing cover is the cover that goes over the timing chain that is also where the idler pulley bolts too.A new cover would be really expensive I would get one at pick a part or a junk yard. The sockets are sold at sears there called twist sockets and remove rounded fasteners.
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Thursday, July 21st, 2011 AT 4:39 PM
Tiny
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Okay as for the broken bolt, what should I do?
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Thursday, July 21st, 2011 AT 6:26 PM
Tiny
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Did the little round nipple on the front cover break off that sits in the center of the idler pulley bearing?
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Thursday, July 21st, 2011 AT 6:55 PM
Tiny
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Yes, I took a closer look and the bolt is not broke. Just the little nipple.
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Tuesday, August 9th, 2011 AT 7:49 PM
Tiny
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Then you have to replace the front timong cover.
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Tuesday, August 9th, 2011 AT 7:57 PM
Tiny
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How hard is that to do?
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Thursday, August 11th, 2011 AT 3:17 PM
Tiny
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It takes more advanced car repair skills you have to remove the valve cover remove the upper motor mount jack the engine up remove the belt water pump pulley crank pulley lower engine mount and bracket all the front cover bolts including the two middle ones. The four oil pan bolts that go into the front cover. Then you have to carefully bend the oil pan away from the front cover just enough to get the front cover off. Then carefully pry on the front cover to break loose the silicone and get the cover off. Then stuff a rag down bellow the crank to keep debris from dropping in the oil pan. Then your most likely going to be installing a used cover so you will have to remove the oil pump wear plate down by where the crankshaft goes thru the cover and all that up. Then put a little lube in there put that back together then clean the rest of it up clean the oil pan and block head surface up for reassembly. Then put a bead of silicone around the front cover and a small careful bead on the oil pan if you put too much there it will clog the oil pump up. Then remove that rag. Then you have to put the cover back on without getting silicone all over the timining chain then you need a pocket srewdriver to line up the oil pump while your sliding the crankshaft thru the front cover. Then put all the front cover bolts back in then the oil pan bolts that go into the front cover. Then install the U shaped lower engine mount then take a pry bar and start bending the oil pan back up againist the front cover. Then put everything back on use permatex ultra grey silicone that works good. Do you have the broken piece that came off the front cover?If so does it fit right back in place and all the pieces are there?If so you could try to using jb weld epoxy just becarefull to not get any in the thread hole.
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Thursday, August 11th, 2011 AT 5:07 PM
Tiny
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Thank you so much. Thats exactly what I need to know.
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Sunday, August 14th, 2011 AT 7:11 AM
Tiny
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Your welcome thats what were here for. So did you get it fixed?If so did you repair the front cober or replace it?
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Sunday, August 14th, 2011 AT 2:12 PM
Tiny
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I haven't tried yet. We are going to see if j b welding it will work. But we already have decided to go ahead and get a new cover and have it there just in case.
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Sunday, August 14th, 2011 AT 7:49 PM
Tiny
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Cool let me know how you make out with that one.I would let the jb weld dry over night before putting the pulley back on.
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Sunday, August 14th, 2011 AT 9:27 PM
Tiny
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I do have a question, should I take the front cover off to jb weld it. Or try to line it up on the side of the block?
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Monday, August 15th, 2011 AT 5:25 PM
Tiny
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If your going to take the cover off the try to jb weld it you might as well just replace the cover.I was talking about trying it on the car. If it was a clean break and all the pieces are there and line up together I would try it. If not just replace the cover.
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Monday, August 15th, 2011 AT 5:35 PM
Tiny
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Thats what I was thinking. Thank you again.
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Monday, August 15th, 2011 AT 7:11 PM
Tiny
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Your welcome keep me posted of your outcome.
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Monday, August 15th, 2011 AT 7:57 PM

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