Chrysler Repair: 1996 LHS water pump 3.5L replacement, crank pulley, cam sprockets

Question
I am about to change the water pump on my 1996 LHS 3.5 liter engine. There is coolant coming out of the engine front cover drain hole and there is a problem with the vehicle wanting to overheat on occasion. There are no other leaks in the system so I am assuming that either the O ring or waterpump is bad. I am not sure which is the #1 spark plug to get it to top dead center, is it the right (passenger side)front plug? Is there a special puller for the harmonic balancer? I am also going to change the timing belt as well since it is all open. Thanks for your help.
Joe


Answer
Hi Joseph,
The number 1 spark plug is the passenger side front. Yes, because of the damper aspect of the balancer there is a puller which grasps the inner openings and in the Miller Tool line it is #1023 used with s center rod #C-4685-C2.
Before you remove the timing belt simply rotate the crankshaft until the timing marks on the cam sprockets are center between the marks on the back covers. Then remove the tensioner and the belt. You will want to compress the tensioner in a vice and lock it in the tensioned position with a pin or allen wrench that fits the locking hole. Make sure the crank is still at the TDC position (round locator at about 12:30) then starting at the crank pulley thread the belt counter clockwise and keep it under tension once it it around the right cam sprocket and the tensioner pulley. Then pressing the pulley against the belt install the tensioner (install bolts to 250 inch-pounds) and finally pull its pin. Then rotate the engine a couple of turns using the crank sprocket and check the marks again.
Use a new o-ring on the water pump, wetting it with water at installation. Install mounting bolts to 105 inch-pounds
Roland