I tried to remove the bottom gear for the timing belt with no luck. I tried the correct way with the 3 bolts and a puller but it snapped those tiny bolts off in the gear. what can do? I removed the crank anyway with oil pump and gear still on. Can I cut apart the oil pump and use a puller from the back? any ideas?

Close. Cut apart the gear. Apparently, the Neon guys do it all the time. The gear is supposedly pretty cheap from the dealer (like $15). But I've never had to buy one.

Ok thank you very much!

I've removed about a dozen of these using the same set of bolts, the trick is grade 10.5 bolts for your puller. They MUST be black bolts, not silver. I got lucky and found them in a hardware store, but you'll probably need to order them. m6? x 1.0 threadpitch x 120mm long

Helps a lot to soak the gear in liquid wrench the night before, also make sure the puller stays in line as you're puling, if you twist it the bolts will shear. Using an impact wrench also helps a lot to cut down on twisting.

If you go the cutting route, I have several spares to sell, $5 + shipping. PM me.

I used needle nose and slowly turned the bolts out. My dad found me some grade 12!

No such thing as a grade 12 "call out" on fastener specifications. There is a 12.9 rating, but that is an ISO metric srandard, and not the same thing.

"Grade" call outs are typically standard thread fasteners too, so I assume you indeed mean 12.9 as you need metric fasteners on the 420a.

I used a steering wheel puller, some home made bolts (didn't have a 6X1.00 bolt in the kit so i welded some small ones onto a larger long bolt) and a heat gun. Didn't have any problems at all.

they're cheap at the dealer <$20.00 I replace them every time because I'm anal.