Thanks for the quick response. Iwill follow your advice to put the valve cover and engine mount back on.

I did change the Balance shaft belt. But from all of the three main components (timing belt, water pump, and balance shaft belt) the balance shaft belt had the most wear. The timing belt looked very good. The balance shaft belt had slight wear.

Anybody else tried anything creative for that timing belt cover #2 seal.

Thanks again.

 

I spoke to a local dealer parts department - They quoted me $61 for all the timing belt cover seals.

I asked if I can use something else. He recommended using silicone. I don't feel like spending $61 or probably $30 online on something that should cost $1 or $2. My car has online 130k and I took the timing belt covers off carefully and these things got screwed. I think I will try Silicone and hope it works.

 

You might try to find some kind of weatherstripping rubber stuff about the same size? Rubber vacuum hose?

I've had that seal tear, but I've just pieced it back together & used silicone (Permatex gasket stuff) to glue the peicesback into it's groove.

I think the timing belts have a lot of margin to their lifespan. The ones I've done have all looked really good. But the consequences of breaking a timing belt are severe. And I suspect that the belt will continue to LOOK really good until about 5 hours before it breaks.