Removing the timing belt cover on a Chrysler Sebring with a 2.5 liter engine means that the intent is to either replace the water pump or change the timing belt. This is a double overhead cam engine that Chrysler has identified as an interference engine. This means that the design of the engine leaves no room for error when installing the timing belt. If the belt is off one tooth, the valves will strike the pistons and cause serious damage to the engine.
Raise the car with the floor jack and support it by placing floor jacks under the sub frame. Lower the car onto the jacks and remove the floor jack. Remove the passenger side wheel using the lug wrench.
Remove the inner splash shield using a 10 mm socket. Place the floor jack under the engine oil pan to support the engine when the motor mount is removed.
Remove the coolant reservoir tank using a 10 mm socket. Put it aside. Loosen the accessory belt tensioner using a ratchet. Place the ratchet in the square hole in the tensioner. Pull on the ratchet to move the tensioner away from the belt while it is being removed.
Remove the crankshaft pulley bolt using a socket and the breaker bar. The bolt is tight, so the breaker bar will provide enough torque to remove it. Pull the crankshaft pulley off.
Remove the passenger side top motor mount and bracket using a socket. Remove the oxygen sensor harness cable, which is attached to the timing belt cover, using a 10 mm socket. Remove the power steering pump and bracket using a socket. Do not remove the hose; just move it out of the way. Remove the upper and lower timing belt covers by removing all the 10 mm bolts.
