1999 Subaru Forester S Timing Belt Removal and Installation

Removal 1. Disconnect negative battery cable. Raise and support vehicle. Remove engine under cover. 2. Lower vehicle. Remove radiator coolant reservoir, and set aside. Remove electric cooling fan and radiator shroud. 3. On Impreza and Forester, remove accessory drive belt cover. On all models, remove accessory drive belts. 4. Hold crankshaft pulley stationary, and remove crankshaft pulley center bolt. Remove crankshaft pulley. Remove timing belt covers. 5. Turn crankshaft to align crankshaft and camshaft timing notches with marks on rear timing cover and engine block. See Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 . On manual transmission models, remove timing belt guide from top of crankshaft pulley. 6. On all models, if reusing old belt, use White paint to mark timing belt in relation to sprocket timing marks. See Fig. 3. Also mark timing belt direction of travel. On 2000 and newer vehicles, count number of teeth between marks. For correct count, see INSTALLATION MARK MEASUREMENT SPECIFICATIONS table. 7. Remove No. 2 timing belt idler pulley. See Fig. 4. Remove timing belt. Remove timing belt automatic tensioner with rod facing up.

Installation CAUTION: To prevent damage, DO NOT apply more than 2205 lbs. (9807 N) of pressure to automatic adjuster rod. Do NOT press automatic tensioner rod past the top surface of the housing. 1. Ensure crankshaft and camshaft timing marks are still aligned. Place automatic adjuster in a press with rod facing up. Apply 66 lbs. (294 N) pressure to end of rod. SLOWLY compress rod (taking more than 3 minutes) into housing until rod and housing holes are aligned. Insert locking pin through holes. See Fig. 6. 2. Install automatic tensioner on engine with locking pin in place. Install idler pulleys (if removed). 3. Ensure crankshaft and camshaft timing marks are still aligned. Install timing belt. If reusing old belt, ensure belt direction of rotation is correct and mating marks are aligned. Count number of teeth between crankshaft sprocket and camshaft sprockets so that belt will be installed in same position. For correct count of teeth, see INSTALLATION MARK MEASUREMENT SPECIFICATIONS table. To determine distances Z-1 and Z-2, see Fig. 3. 4. Install No. 2 idler pulley on engine. Remove automatic tensioner locking pin. On manual transmission models, install timing belt guide over crankshaft pulley. Adjust clearance between belt guide and belt to .020-.058" (.5-1.5 mm). See Fig. 7.

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