Arrggghhh! Can't get timining belt to stay in time.

[NM_Shooter]

I'm frustrated. What am I doing wrong?

97 4Runner 3.4L

Putting the timing belt on has been a bear.

I line up the timing marks, get the belt on, release the tensioner pin.

Rotate the marks all the way around by turning the crank bolt. First time around they line up. Second time around, I've skipped a tooth and the belt is off one tooth to the right (when looking at it from the front of the engine).

WTH? Is my tensioner bad? It seems to generate lots of back pressure when I slowly compress it.

HELPPPPPP!!!!!!!

 

[A.Wilson013]

I'm frustrated. What am I doing wrong?

97 4Runner 3.4L

Putting the timing belt on has been a bear.

I line up the timing marks, get the belt on, release the tensioner pin.

Rotate the marks all the way around by turning the crank bolt. First time around they line up. Second time around, I've skipped a tooth and the belt is off one tooth to the right (when looking at it from the front of the engine).

WTH? Is my tensioner bad? It seems to generate lots of back pressure when I slowly compress it.

HELPPPPPP!!!!!!!

Ha, you said bear.

Anyway.

It def. sounds like you've got something up with the tensioner. Are you following any sort of guide?

 

[kball]

What marks? Marks on the belt or on the pulleys? Once you put the belt on and rotate the engine the belt marks won't line up anymore but the pulley marks should all line up every other rotation.

 

[NM_Shooter]

Oh crap.

Yeah... the timing marks on the belt no longer line up with the timing marks on the cam pulleys.

Even though the cam pulley timing marks and the crank marks are dead on. I thought that I was skipping a tooth each rotation.

Yeah... I am a noob. Thanks for the help.

 

[NM_Shooter]

Ahhhh.....happiness is a truck that starts after a timing belt / water pump swap.... and no leaks to boot.

Thanks.

-f-

 

[l3igl3ang]

I had seen this happen when i did my tacoma it was odd cause all the marks on the belt lined up then after i rotate the motor by wrench they wasnt lined up but we checked everything stuck a screw drive down in piston and it was TDC and the cams where in line so we went with it it worked just like it should no missing or anything.

 

[NM_Shooter]

I learned a lot on this job. I'm embarrassed to say, but it took me 9 hours to do this. I made more than one mistake on the way.

I had trouble getting the big belt pulley off of the crankshaft, so I removed the radiator so I could get a gear puller on it. Turned out it only needed a little bit of help to get it off. I should have just tried to gently pry it off first, but I didn't know how much effort was going to be required. The R&R of the radiator probably cost me 45 minutes.

Then the screw up thinking that the belt marks were going to line up each turn around cost me a bunch of time. I won't tell you how many times I removed and re-installed the belt. Let's just say I used up about a quart of loctite on the upper idler bolt :redbrick:

I also had a tough time getting the pin in position on the tensioner. I bought the spreader tool, and it came with a pin. I had to file the edges of the tip of the pin down in order to get the pin correctly inserted.

So I am going to say nine hours, not counting the time it took to make my 4' long pulley wrench, parts gathering, and internet research.

Next one will be quicker..

 

[kball]

Good to hear it all worked out. I learned a lot doing mine as well. Everyone seems to make a big deal about how fast they are around here. I spread my t belt job over about 2.5 days and I'm glad I took it real slow and made sure everything was right.

 

[NM_Shooter]

BTW.. thanks to all on this forum. This place has saved me a ton of money.

 

[NM_Shooter]

Good to hear it all worked out. I learned a lot doing mine as well. Everyone seems to make a big deal about how fast they are around here. I spread my t belt job over about 2.5 days and I'm glad I took it real slow and made sure everything was right.

I wanted to just push through mine to get it done, as my failing memory tends to not help these jobs. I also line all the parts up on my garage floor in the order they came off, along with fasteners stacked or inserted into the parts where they need to go.

Thanks again for your post about the marks on the belt moving off a bit each rotation. I was pulling my hair out trying to figure out what I was doing wrong.

 

[LittleCaesar]

Unless one makes a living out of turning a wrench, time should never be a factor IMHO. Ever.

People learn at different speeds; it is the end result that matters most.

Good job BTW.

 

[awdjunkies]

Unless one makes a living out of turning a wrench, time should never be a factor IMHO. Ever.

People learn at different speeds; it is the end result that matters most.

Good job BTW.

Best advice yet :trophy: :iagree:

Disclaimer: I for one, Am far from being a wrench monkey. so I (try) to learn as much as I can from you guys and/or vids or pics.

 

[l3igl3ang]

yeah the tensioner was a pita! when i changed the pullys the first time on my taco i didnt take the belt off i used same belt and some how i dont know how but i was able to get the belt back on the tensioner w/o taking the crank off and the plastic dust cover. But 2nd time i tried and tired when i did water pump and new belt and it wasnt happening that ez so i had to take the dam ac compresser off the truck just to get the tensioner off then i used a big C clamp and viced it down enough to get a pin in it then i put it on and got it all lined up and pulled the pin worked like a charm.