Why Is So Hard To Remove/install Timing Belt Upper Cover?

[njsss]

It's a 2000 RAV4. I broke the timing belt upper cover when I tried to take it off. Now after everything settled, I can't get a newly purchased cover on again! It seems impossible to get away with the engine mount bracket (and that bolt). I'm really frustrated now. How can I do it? Do I need to remove that piece? From underneath only see two bolts slot into the engine, even after removing them, couldn't move the bracket a bit.

[anchorman]

You have to remove that bracket first. The instructions for renewing the belt are shown in the pinned section;

http://www.toyotaownersclub.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=110862

[mystic]

Not that it's relevant but my old car, when trying to remove the cover i had to drop the entire engine out to get at the bolts, bad designs

[njsss]

Thank you anchorman, that is actually the page I googled that directed me here. However there's one thing I don't quiet understand "there are then six bolts in the bracket which hold it on of which the front two (17mm) go through the power steering pump". I went through the pdf file, but as you can see, I only have this piece sitting alone, and btw I thought the powering steering pump was at the bottom close to the crankshaft pulley? ( Or maybe that's the difference between UK and US model?) As I described earlier I did see two bolts underneath this mount. So it looks like I should be able to remove this mounting bracket once I removed those two, or am I mistaking something?

[anchorman]

It looks like you have the new belt on. If you loosten the bracket maybe you can slip the cover on.

I've slept since I did that job and can't remember the detail. I can remember thinking I wasn't exactly looking forward to doing it again. I would fit a water pump and an idler kit with the next one just as a precaution (100-120k miles).