Hey all -

I went ahead and finished the timing belt job today with your help. Thanks all for you advice. I'm kicking myself big time and wanted to see if anyone had advice regarding an odd situation I found myself in.

I removed the bolts for the water pump and put them aside. When I went to reinstall the water pump I had 8 bolts instead of 7. I figured I would find where the extra bolt came from by the time I put everything back to together - dumb idea.

Anyways - the best I can figure is that I likely took this bolt off by accident when taking the water pump off and never replaced it.



https://imgur.com/a/szQ92MU

Can anyone tell me what it is I took off and if it's an issue. I am hoping it is nothing because I really cannot be going back down the deep into the engine again.

Doing some more research - seems like I removed a bolt for the oil pump. I guess if I start leaking oil there I will know why. I hope it is well sealed and the (presumed) missing bolt will not be missed.

Any advice / opinions from the more experienced folks welcome

You're just inviting big trouble, fix what you messed up, if the pump leaks oil, and I'm sure it will at some point it will ruin the timing belt and then you'll be redoing the entire job not just put the bolt you forgot back where it goes, much more work and time...BUT it's your truck,money and time!!!

Extra pieces are just over engineering

To access that bolt I would be redoing the whole job at this point anyway. It's deep in there and the timing belt would potentially have to come off as well to access it.

Maybe Timmy has an idea or two...

As far as I can the bolt seems to be a bolt that holds the oil pump assembly to the motor but doesn't seal the oil or anything like that. I think it will be okay.

New problem this am - drove and had some leaking. Parked and popped the hood and coolant had gotten in the fan and sprayed on the motor. I imagine this means my radiator is now leaking. I look it out to the do job and don't think I damaged it in anyway.

I'm going to give it som time and just pray it will seal itself off.

I'd find where that bolt went and put it back on. Better safe then sorry.

Having done a timing belt myself this past weekend, I get the urge to ignore it. I would lose sleep over it though. I bet you can sneak that bolt in past the timing belt and crank pulley. Still gotta pull the drive belts and fan out, but you dont have to take the radiator out (I didn't) and you probably don't even need to remove the radiator hoses if you're just trying to get the fan bracket out. The upper timing belt cover can just hang loose on the upper radiator hose.

I also accidentally removed an oil pump bolt during my wp job, I believe that same one. Worse, when I went to put it back in it seemed to have stripped. I was afraid to torque it for fear it would have to be drilled out, and what fun that would be...couple thousand miles later I have had no problems. I just put my skid plate back on yesterday and there was no leaking in that area.

well you have had practice doing a belt, think how much faster you would be next time. I would pull it down and put the bolt in