spring tensioner on timing belt

[bwilkinson]

I screwed up and removed the screw for the spring tensioner for the timing belt. I cannot get it re-installed. The tension is too great..... any ideas?

Also, behind the harmonic balancer there is a black piece with a magenet in the center which has wires going to the back of it. What is that because the magnet broke off when I removed the harmonic balancer. I hope it is not the crankshaft position sensor.

 

[bwilkinson]

here are some pics

 

[scotts90ranger]

if you take the timing belt tensioner off, you have to put it on with the timing belt off or pulled out of the way so that you can have all of the spring tension off wile installing the bolts, then pry the tensioner back and bottom it out then tighten the bolts.

that's the crank sensor, it's hard to see what you broke with those tiny pictures but it looks like you broke the sensor itself, it's easy to replace actually, about 3" behind the sensor it's probably spliced from the factory (mine was), just match up wire colors on a replacement sensor and align sensor with the vanes (3 business card thicknesses on the outer vane worked for me)

 

[bwilkinson]

boy do i feel stupid. I removed the screw on the tensioner and re-installed it no problem.

As far as the crank sensor, since the magent is broken off, it won't start anyhow right? A new one is 200.00 bucks, and I would have to splice it because I don't see a way to get it off any other way. The chilton manual says that it simply unplugs, but it dosen't on a 92' Ranger 2.3l.

Forgive me for my ignorance, but what did you mean about the "vanes"?

 

[bwilkinson]

mission accomplished

Man, am i glad to be done!!!! Went got a new crank sensor (119.00) from autozone, thank god for the military discount. What a pain in the butt it was to install. Mine was not spliced, therefore I cut the wires and pulled it out from behind the inner timing belt cover. I could not get the new one in, I disconnected the wires from the harness, drilled a hole in the back of the inner timing belt cover (hope that is o.k.) wrapped all the wires tight with tape, fed it through and pushed (through the drilled hole). Finally got a hold of the wires on the other side. Re-attached the harness and was able to plug it in. Got it all back together and cranked it right up. No problems yet! Hope it holds up. I did learn a lot on this job.

 

[scotts90ranger]

glad it worked for ya... when I thought I killed my sensor I just went to the junk yard and got a spare.