| . Tappet adjustment, cam belt change etc. . |
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Posted by Paul Drawmer on 5-Dec-2001 at 15:25:
These are not difficult jobs. Yes, there always is a slight amount of tappet clatter on the m20 engine - if you've got rid of all of it, there probably isn't enough clearance! The water pump and idle do not have to be changed with the cam belt, but they are not expensive items, and it makes sense to do them at the same time. The idler will look after the belt, and the water pump is underneath it, so by replacing it as preventative maintainance will save you time later. It is also a good idea, whilst ferreting around the front of the engine to have a good look at all the hoses. Age will take a toll on these items regardless of mileage, so look out for swellings or soft spots, especially around the clips. If you have been changing your coolant every two years from new, then the radiator shouldn't be silted up, but it wont do any harm to back flush it with a hose pipe whilst the system is drained. Make sure you use hi-spec coolant, not because the engine is difficult or highly stressed, but because as the car ages you want to do all you can to preserve radiators and block (I really don't fancy chaging the heater!)
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