anyone have any tricks for that little timing belt cover bolt on the upper cover towards the rear? It is a major pain.

 

Its been a while since I pulled the upper TB cover, so my memory is foggy.

I remember having to try several socket/ratchet combos until I could fit it in there on one of the TB cover bolts. I may have put the socket on the bolt, then pushed the ratchet in?

 

Use a 1/4" drive ratchet and 10mm socket. This makes it easier, but still a challenge. It's in a difficult position,... but you knew that already.

good luck

 

with such little room to move a rachet, I tried an air ratchet. Only the power steering hose was in the way kinda. I got the ratchet and socket on the bolt head, but the lever ( trigger ) on the air ratched was fully squeezed 'on' by the PS hose wedged against it.

So, I just put the air on the ratchet then popped it off again real quick to simulate using the ratchet trigger.

Worked good!