Most inaccessible engine bays?

"mkbruin, Atlas VP" (mkbruin) 06/21/2016 at 16:14 • Filed to: None

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For mortals. No 575's here. What average vehicle makes you want to beat yourself with a torque wrench rather than turn a ratchet?

For me, 1st gen Cirrus/Stratus, 2.5 Mutsu v6. 1/4 inch clearance between the pulley and fender means you practically have to pull the engine to change a serpentine. You do need to pull the engine to change the water pump (driven by the timing belt, and yes it IS an interference design). Battery in the wheel well. And good luck with rear plugs, given over 50% of the engine is below the cowl with about one inch of clearance.

Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras > mkbruin, Atlas VP 06/21/2016 at 16:19

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crowmolly > mkbruin, Atlas VP 06/21/2016 at 16:19

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70's-80's vans.

How the hell do you set the timing on this thing?

SkyNet > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras 06/21/2016 at 16:20

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You beat me to it.

Jcarr > mkbruin, Atlas VP 06/21/2016 at 16:20

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The MkV Jetta 2.5 has very little room to work.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > mkbruin, Atlas VP 06/21/2016 at 16:20

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Fourth generation Camaro/Firebird.

Fuck everything about this engine location. I get why it's shoved so far back but shit.

TheHondaBro > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras 06/21/2016 at 16:21

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Doesn't help that Honda loves to cram shit into places to use up every square inch of area.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > mkbruin, Atlas VP 06/21/2016 at 16:21

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3000GT VR4

not for canada - australian in disguise > mkbruin, Atlas VP 06/21/2016 at 16:21

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I’d like to see someone top the Lexus RX350.

Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras > TheHondaBro 06/21/2016 at 16:23

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.0001 inches of free space? QUICK WE HAVE TO SHOVE MORE SHIT INTO THERE

StoneCold > crowmolly 06/21/2016 at 16:24

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That’s when you need a Ford; the distributor is in front :)

FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem > mkbruin, Atlas VP 06/21/2016 at 16:25

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You can access the engine but you have to remove the whole hood.

Hermann > crowmolly 06/21/2016 at 16:25

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No idea how to set the timing. But I have a clue on how to check the air filter.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > mkbruin, Atlas VP 06/21/2016 at 16:25

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No good picture but the Toyota Previa.

Steve in Manhattan > mkbruin, Atlas VP 06/21/2016 at 16:27

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I’ve heard V6 Camrys are a bitch, especially replacing the water pump and timing belt.

Invinciblejets > mkbruin, Atlas VP 06/21/2016 at 16:28

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Z32 300zx

dogisbadob > mkbruin, Atlas VP 06/21/2016 at 16:29

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Any transverse V6 or V8

AkursedX > mkbruin, Atlas VP 06/21/2016 at 16:29

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The 2nd gen mr2 engine bay is one of my least favorites to work in:

The Stig's former college room mate > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 06/21/2016 at 16:30

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I used to be a tech at a Chevy dealer. The first time I had to do a tuneup on an old LT1 Camaro, I rethought my career path

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > The Stig's former college room mate 06/21/2016 at 16:32

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Seems all my friends drive these and I always have to help do work on them because I'm the car guy. I used to want one, not anymore.

duurtlang > mkbruin, Atlas VP 06/21/2016 at 16:33

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I know which engine certainly is not going to win. My old mk2 Golf with its base 1.3L FI engine. There was almost enough room to stand in there.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > mkbruin, Atlas VP 06/21/2016 at 16:34

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4th gen Camaro/Firebirds were effectively front-mid engined, with half the engine tucked under the cowl.

thebigbossyboss > mkbruin, Atlas VP 06/21/2016 at 16:35

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Smart car.

Engine undr neath body. Ok.

Die-Trying > mkbruin, Atlas VP 06/21/2016 at 16:37

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not that the bay is that bad, but doing any real work is a hassle...... starter anyone????

Sam > mkbruin, Atlas VP 06/21/2016 at 16:38

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Pretty much any Japanese transverse engined cars. Our GT-FOUR was the absolute worst, because it had all the turbo piping and the engine piping. Those Japanese sure know how to cram a ton of stuff into an engine bay.

Die-Trying > crowmolly 06/21/2016 at 16:39

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some have a peep hole in the top of the bellhousing(block side)

itranthelasttimeiparkedit > mkbruin, Atlas VP 06/21/2016 at 16:40

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When looking at project cars I seriously will research engine bay access now. E30 is badass to work on, you can get to everything pretty easy...

StoneCold > mkbruin, Atlas VP 06/21/2016 at 16:42

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Everyone says they love V12s until they have to work on a V12.

E38 starter removal according to Chilton’s:

735i: 12 steps

740i: 8 steps

750i: 27 steps

bingham123 > mkbruin, Atlas VP 06/21/2016 at 16:46

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vauxhall vectra b, 2.5 v6 fwd.

horrible engine to work on, theirs nothing on the right side of the engine and a bit of space, the other side has everything and no space at all. you have to move the engine every time you do anything on it.

petebmwm > Die-Trying 06/21/2016 at 16:56

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fuck that!!!! how about a water pump!!!

finn's arm > Die-Trying 06/21/2016 at 17:03

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Actually... not bad.

Die-Trying > petebmwm 06/21/2016 at 17:10

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and that “wonderful” seal that seals the camshaft where it passes through the valve cover..

Textured Soy Protein > mkbruin, Atlas VP 06/21/2016 at 17:10

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Is a Boxster plebian enough?

petebmwm > Die-Trying 06/21/2016 at 17:13

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HAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Fuck this motor!

interstate366, now In The Industry > mkbruin, Atlas VP 06/21/2016 at 17:19

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3rd gen Prelude engines. B20A5/B21A1. The H-series on the 4th and 5th gen are absolute caverns by comparison.

The RB26DETT on the R32 GT-R is also pretty cramped. My coworker has been driving one recently (it’s gorgeous in white) and the alternator belt broke. He said he had to take a few random things off to get the new belt on.

interstate366, now In The Industry > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras 06/21/2016 at 17:21

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H-powered cars are absolutely cavernous by comparison.

Die-Trying > petebmwm 06/21/2016 at 17:25

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they run great whey they are right........... or until they get more than about 12 years...... or 150kish miles.

Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car > Textured Soy Protein 06/21/2016 at 17:56

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Yes. I have a 98 and it’s a pita to work on.

Nimbus The Legend - Riding on air like a cloud > Invinciblejets 06/21/2016 at 19:07

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Came here to day this, and every new nissan and infiniti...

Removing the Alternator on this stupid thing was an ordeal...

TA4K > Sam 06/21/2016 at 19:45

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Although the more basic NA 3S motors in the ST chassis cars have a lot of room to work. It’s just that they decided to smoosh as much turbo stuff in there as they could.

TA4K > dogisbadob 06/21/2016 at 19:46

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Mazda’s K series V6 isn’t too bad, you can do a timing belt relatively easily, I’ve done cams by just taking the IM off, starter motor and alternator etc are pretty easy to get to. It is however a V6 specifically designed to be as compact as possible.

Autofixation > mkbruin, Atlas VP 06/21/2016 at 19:50

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My sister had a 1999 Beetle with the 2.0. Me being the loving, mechanically inclined older brother, I would always work on it when something was wrong. **** that car. Thankfully she replaced with a 2009 Forester.

dogisbadob > TA4K 06/21/2016 at 20:34

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yeah, just taking the IM off, like that doesn’t take all week :p

Can you replace the spark plugs and valve cover gaskets without removing it?

TA4K > dogisbadob 06/21/2016 at 20:41

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You can do the spark plugs very easily, the front valve cover gasket can be done but you do have to pull it for the rear. It is actually quite easy to take off however.

Evil's Wheels > mkbruin, Atlas VP 06/21/2016 at 23:18

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Ford Aerostar. Behold!