Mitsubishi Repair: timing belt replacement 2000 galant 3.0 (L), crankshaft pulley, mitsubishi galant

Question
What is the step by step procedure for replacing the timing belt on a Mitsubishi Galant, 3.0 (L) engine.
Thanks,
Bill

Answer
Bill: Do you know what you are asking here? You will have to go out and buy a repair manual for your car. Can pick them up at any parts store for around $20.00. Every car is different and I mostly work on older Eclipses, so you won't write a poor report on me. Let me give you a short run down and what you would be going through to do this job. But again this is for an Eclipse with a 2.0L engine but they have not changed all that much through out the years. But you have a air bags in your car, so you would have to becareful not to set that off. First off you position number one piston at Top Dead Center. Take neg.cable off battery, remove the air cleaner assembly and associated hoses, set the parking brake and block rear wheels. Then you raise the front of the car, put jack stands under it. Then you need to make sure the engine is supported with a piece of wood and place a floor jack under the oil pan. Remove the clamp and bracket for the power steering pressure hose(if equipped) and the clamp for air conditioning hose, remove drivebelts, tensioner pulley bracket. remove the tensioner pulley, remove splash pan from beneath the drivebelt end of the engine, remove the water pump pulleys. Have to remove water pump. You might have to remove engine mount too. Loosen the large crankshaft sprocket bolt in the center of the crankshaft pulley. It might be very tight, so, to break it loose, wrap a rag around the pulley and attack a chain wrench. Slip a 1/2-inch drive extension through the hole in the inter fender and into the sprocket bolt head. Turn the extension with a breaker bar. Next remove the bolts and remove the crankshaft pulley. remove the retaining bolts from the upper and lower timing belts covers, and remove the covers and gaskets. remove the two bolts and lift off the automatic tensioner, make a mark on the timing belt in the direction of rotation so it can be reinstalled in the same direction in the event the timing belt is reused. Also find the marks, mark them good so you can find them when you put the new belt back on. You need to remember the top side, sides and bottom to get that belt back on right. Or draw a picture. You must this right or your car will not start. remove the tensioner arm bolts and the tensioner, then remove the belt. This is pulled out of my repair manual, through out that whole piece the manual says see illustrations, you will need your own manual. It will show you pictures should you get lost in what you are doing. As I said every car is different but then this gives you an idea what you would be getting into. Got to say to work on one of these little cars, you often need a strong back and 11 arms as well as hands. Hope this helps some and good luck! Linda :o)