Help identifying a part found while changing the timing belt

[mlhtfh]

Hello,
I'm new to the forum. I have a 2000 Limited with ~104K miles on it. I've been working on replacing the timing belt and the water pump for the last few days, and I just found a rubber piece (gasket of some sort?) below the vehicle, and I don't know where it came from. I hope someone can help identify this piece and tell me where it goes.

 

[cfranck1]

Maybe it a radiator cap gasket?

Check you overflow cap to see if a gasket might be missing.

Maybe the washer fluid lid gasket??
Does it smell like anything else besides rubber. Maybe like a fluid type?? You might able to narrow it down that way??
I don't really know. Just shooting a few ideas out there, where you were working on the truck?

Let us know if you find out where it goes!

 

[TheDurk]

How thick is it? Might be a muffler or exhaust pipe hanger if it's kinda thick...

 

[Deceptiwave]

Flux Capacitor insulation diaphram?
Or a radiator gasket?

 

[mlhtfh]

Thanks everyone for the suggestion. Upon checking the radiator, "flux capacitor insulation diaphram" -- wish I had one of those!! It turned out to be the gasket for the cap on the coolant reservoir. Changing TB and the H2O pump is a pain in the A$$. Broke a wrench, wrench adaptor, and a bolt on the water pump which took me ~ 4hrs to remove. As I was putting the the H20 pump back on this morning I noticed that the TB tensioner is no longer working. It stays retracted and no longer putting the pressure against the TB pulley. There appears to be two bolts holding it together, the front one is not difficult to get to, but the inner one is a real pain to get to. This is by far the most challenging work I have attempted on any of my cars. Any suggestion as to how to get to that inner TB tensioner bolt is greatly appreciated!!! What is the consequence of not changing out a defective TB tensioner?? Thanks in advance.

 

[02SE]

When I've done timing belt replacements, I always replace the tensioner. I've found it easiest just to unbolt the AC compressor from the block, to get better access to the tensioner bolts. Do not loosen the hoses to the AC compressor though.

 

[Mauzer]

Flux Capacitor insulation diaphram?
Or a radiator gasket?

LMAO, where ya been man?

 

[TheDurk]

Thanks everyone for the suggestion. Upon checking the radiator, "flux capacitor insulation diaphram" -- wish I had one of those!! It turned out to be the gasket for the cap on the coolant reservoir. Changing TB and the H2O pump is a pain in the A$$. Broke a wrench, wrench adaptor, and a bolt on the water pump which took me ~ 4hrs to remove. As I was putting the the H20 pump back on this morning I noticed that the TB tensioner is no longer working. It stays retracted and no longer putting the pressure against the TB pulley. There appears to be two bolts holding it together, the front one is not difficult to get to, but the inner one is a real pain to get to. This is by far the most challenging work I have attempted on any of my cars. Any suggestion as to how to get to that inner TB tensioner bolt is greatly appreciated!!! What is the consequence of not changing out a defective TB tensioner?? Thanks in advance.

A bad tensioner is a bad thing. You will probably jump time and engine will die or run like cr*p. To get it off, you have to unbolt the A/C compressor. I remember lying on my back reaching up from behind to get that off. Adds about a half-hour to the job but has to be done.