Expert: Sean Halliday - 12/30/2007

Question
We are changing the timing belt and cam and crank seals on my brothers 2.5 DOHC engine. (along with a new water pump) We used a vise to slowly push the hydraulic tensioner in (took us 6 minutes to be safe.) But I have read that it must not be done in a vise (found out after the fact...) but a press. I am guessing its to keep the unit upright? Do you know if this will cause the unit to not work properly? The car has about 125,000 miles on it. I am a little scared now and am thinking we should just replace it anyways to be safe? Thank You Bill

Answer
As far as changing the tensioner,its your decision and with high mileage,probably best to renew it.If you are doing all this work,it would be a shame if the tensioner let go after maybe a hundred miles or so.Being hydraulic,theres no way to tell if you damaged it in the vice.