Timing belt change on 2006 Aveo LS: My new detailed write-up

You can set with out tool, put belt on right cam first, rotate with ratchet to get belt on left side

Thanks for the replies, guys. Planning on getting back to it today. I have the Lisle cam locking tool, so I'll first attempt to line up the marks, secure the sprockets, and put the belt on.

Got it done. I bought both the water pump wrench and the cam sprocket locking tool and am glad I did. It took some effort to get the sprockets lined up and secured and then install the belt was and I can see how the previous installer messed it up. Same thing happened to me a few times before I marked the belt and sprockets with correct, corresponding marks. (I could tell they were one off and adjusted the marks beforehand). Once I had something to aim for it was easy.

Lining everything up fixed the loping idle. Runs real smoothly now. Couldn't have done it without this write-up and these comments.

I also did this job, as per my other post, I found the 4 hardest parts were the taking the stupid outer covers off a pick would have helped... I stripped 3 bolts by over tightening them and had to helicoil, that's the part no one talks about torque values on all the bolts... I had a hard time getting the belt on trying to line up the painted marks was a waste of time... I had a big problem with the top left sprocket because the AC line blocks it and I had to use a swivel adapter and I couldn't get a torque wrench on it.... I ran the engine for a couple minutes and mind you I checked the marks on the sprockets and the bottom 2x and it fired up right away but it didn't sound perfect but maybe it's from sitting it was 100% responsive since it was empty on the water due to a leaking water line to the core that's for tomorrow... I think it took 10 hours total but I think without the stripped bolts and the cover and belt it would have took 4 hours what really helped me was having both deep sockets and regular and my new best ratchet it's a long skinny pittsburgh from harborfreight 28.00 though it really helped but you also need a breaker bar impact gun all kinds of socket extensions and the 5mm allen and my torque wrenches were a big problem... I appreciate this site and all your help though this little car has been a hassle but I drove cross country with it.. so god bless the damn car...

I ended up fabricating my own water pump tool... I had a 12 inch open end 36mm wrench and used calipers to measure it to the thousandths of an inch and used a side grinder and ground it to a 41mm.... 41mm is 1.614 inches lol