2AZ-FE Timing Chain Tensioner Replacement, Wire Harness Clamp Help

Maintenance/Repairs
1

I have a 2005 Camry with a 2AZ-FE engine, 2.4 L.

I’m trying to replace the timing chain tensioner, and having some difficulty removing a wire/hose clamp that is at the back of the tensioner, that needs to be unlatched and moved out of the way to allow for removal of the tensioner.

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It is the wire harness that connects the AC compressor, the alternator (yellow line), routes under the beauty cover and down the back of the engine. It mates up with some other wire harness (red line),into a single plastic latch that holds the two wire harnesses down that is mounted to the back of the engine (green area). There’s a single bolt that holds the harness clamp down, however there is also some plastic tab that I’m having great difficulty unlatching. This is totally blind and has to be done by feel. I can feel the tab (I think it’s the right one), and I push and pry all I can. Due to some other hoses in the general facility of the black plastic clamp, I’m only to get a single finger on the plastic tab. I’m able to push it down with great force, and then I try to push the black plastic wire harness off, but cannot. It’s to tight of an area for me to use a screw driver or some plastic pry tool in the area to apply more force. Don’t even know if it would help, because this has to be done totally by feel.

I was able to find a single video only of someone doing this.

At 5:17 you can see the person remove the 10 mm bolt that holds the plastic wire harness down.
At 8:18 you can hear a description of how it’s done. I’m trying to replicate this but cannot.

I tried to find another video of someone doing this but could not find another. All other videos I have found, don’t go into this level of detail on how to remove this wire harness clamp, or appear to show some other configuration that doesn’t have this wire harness plastic clamp.

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This is the clamp in question. Thanks for any help! Or if someone can point towards another video showing how to unfasten this clamp, or can describe the process?

Once I apply sufficient pressure does it get into an unlatched position that remains unlatched? Or am I just suppose to apply as much pressure I can while trying to slide the clamp off?

2

Sometimes a mechanics mirror is your best friend… And a 90 degree small pick also…

Have you tried to push the plastic clamp on (closer to the engine) to release some pressure before pulling down on the clip to remove the plastic clamp??

3

Break it or cut it. Replace it with a wire-tie.

If you keep this up you will still be trying to change the belt next year this time.

I am beginning to suspect either john smith is actually YoshiMoshie or there is some DIY cult that owns nothing but 2005 Camrys.

3 Likes
4

That was my first thought ss well

5

It is, he uses JohnSmith0909 over on ToyotaNation. @YoshiMoshi and JohnSmith have used exact same pictures in the past.I guess he just wanted a “JohnSmith0909……” moniker here to.

2 Likes
6

@cdaquila Not sure if you want to do anything here . But it does seem that John Smith and Yoshi Moshi are the same .