Coolant pooling on top of radiator

Yeah, I didn't know what would happen, since nobody really talked about it, so I plugged them just in case.

As for the timing belt, not ideal, I know, but in the week before my timing belt appointment I had a 1000 mile road trip in Arizona heat a long way from what passes for civilization, so I needed to get the radiator fixed. I'm not usually the guy that goes out into a potentially dangerous environment with a known serious issue. (Unlike my buddy on that trip whose Tundra has only been firing on 7 cylinders for a while. "Funny" side note: he broke a front axel on the trip...ratchet strapped it out of the way and kept going. I don't have his level of risk tolerance...)

 

Somewhere between 1 and the point in 2 where you open the petcock, I'd probably jot down to pop the radiator cap off. Faster drain time

I think it's probably easier if you just pop off the shroud too, but I haven't had to do it so I'mma STFU.

 

Thanks, I edited to add that - as well as a note to make sure everything is sufficiently cool enough to work on safely.

But, to reiterate for any other novices finding this thread: please use some reference besides my post as the main source of instructions.

 

NomadicFrog,

Next time around, we can step you thru the process of changing your timing belt, water pump, pulleys, and tensioner. You can save yourself quite a bit of money. Just work slow and methodical....it is easier than you think.