I was removing the cambelt plastic covers today in order to start on the cambelt change. All the bolts on the N/S cover closest to the battery just started turning and it became clear that the nuts inserted in the back covers where turning in the plastic. I ended up having to cut the bolts. What is the best thing to do for when I go to put the cover back on. I would imagine it is a nightmare to replace the back cover because it means removing the cam toothed wheels.

I can’t seem to get the nuts out of the cover so I am not sure how they are held in but still able to spin?

 

If your replacing the belt don't take it of then undo the bolts that hold the pulleys. Then replace the backplate. You can't get the pulleys on wrong. Copper grease on the new nuts and bolts.

 

Same thing happened to me but the other side , basically need to grip the cam pulley with the old belt remove the pulley and fit the new back cover the nuts are bonded in ,I ordered a rear cover from ICP but it never came with the inserts that are in the cover that bolt it to the head they had to be bought separate

 

Can see in the picture where the pulleys would be to the right that it doesn't come with the support bushing tho you might be able to salvage the ones from your old cover

 

So you undo the pulley bolts with the old belt on, then remove the old belt, then take off pulleys and do backplate, then rotate pulleys back into position, then put old belt back on in order to tighten and torque pulley bolts again?

Is that the procedure of what you have to do?

 

You use the old belt to clamp the pulley wrap it round it then mole grip same with the crack ,I have the proper company 23 tools buy only one of them was a good fit on my car

 

 

I only had one of those bolts snap on me, the others came out OK, so I drilled into it, put a bolt extractor in it and prised out the whole captive nut, then glued in a normal nut with silicon glue. I don't know why but the bolt seemed to be fused to the nut...not rusty.. . weird.

 

Okay thanks, I have managed to take the back cover off now. The bolts holding on the cam pulleys were mega tight.

Hopefully I will be able to do the bolts up okay with the belt holding trick. I am assuming new bolts, put in dry when putting the cam pulleys back?

 

If you've got variable valve pulleys and undid the cam bolts using an old belt, you've almost certainly broken them. I can't remember which way it is but either inlets or exhaust will have sheared an internal pin.
https://www.scoobynet.com/general-technical-10/1059158-avcs-repair.html

 

I’ve just had the same issue when looking at mine. Is it easy enough to epoxy the nut back in or would a screw all the way through and bolt on either side be a better bet?

 

It all depends! Is it the small cover near to the battery then the captive nuts in the backplate are held in with 'wings' on each rear corner. I ended up cracking the plastic backplate to remove one, then I glued with silicon glue a new nut in place. Fortunately I only had one to do... I ordered replacement bolts for the lot and used copper grease when I fitted 'em.
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