Need help with Timing belt !!!

[JT3HN86R]

I began to tear down the front of my 98 Limited this afternoon. The AC was the only real biatch. ANyway, I am confused on the timing marks. The camshaft marks are lined up but I am unsure of the crankshaft marks. The FSM says to align the crank marks with the marks on the #3 timing cover? I thought there were only two covers? Could some of you guys who are more mechanically inclined than me look at these pictures and tell me if it's ok to remove the belt. I don't see any marks to line up with the Crankshaft timing marks. I am confused on the location of the lower marks.

Thanks for your help.

JR

 

[JT3HN86R]

Here are a couple of more pics, sorry for the poor quality.

 

[kball]

Here's some pics of the lower crank marks that you line up. The cover is that part around the crank that says Toyota Aisin.

 

[JT3HN86R]

Here's some pics of the lower crank marks that you line up. The cover is that part around the crank that says Toyota Aisin.

Thanks very much. Do you know what the painted mark on my timing gear is?

This is a 98 Auto Limited 4WD.

I cant seem to see the marks like your picture shows.

JR

 

[kball]

Actually this is the lower cover. You can see on the right side there are timing marks that line up with the crank pulley marks which is probably what you were reading about.

The other pics I put up previously of the marks on the timing gear and oil pump are also used.

 

[JT3HN86R]

I went out and looked at it. The mark in the timing gear is about an eighth of an inch past TDC. So are the cams. Is it ok to proceed or should I turn the Crank until it is lined up perfectly?
Thanks for all of your help.

Joe

 

[kball]

Thanks very much. Do you know what the painted mark on my timing gear is?

This is a 98 Auto Limited 4WD.

I cant seem to see the marks like your picture shows.

JR

The white mark on the outer edge of your timing gear? That's just marking where the dimple is. The dimple on the backside (in my pics) is behind the timing belt so you won't see it unless you have it lined up and you look in there with a light and a mirror.

The pic below shows how you would line up the marks with the crank pulley on using the lower timing cover. There's a mark on the pulley that you line up with zero. Check this link also. It was helpful to me when I did mine.

5vz-fe timing belt

 

[kball]

I went out and looked at it. The mark in the timing gear is about an eighth of an inch past TDC. So are the cams. Is it ok to proceed or should I turn the Crank until it is lined up perfectly?
Thanks for all of your help.

Joe

That's fine, unless you have better luck than me things will move more than that when you try to put the new belt on.

Oh and just to throw it out there, I did not have to mess with any of the A/C stuff at all when I did mine. I got to the tensioner bolts with this. A 1/4" drive ratchet with a long extension and a wobble socket.

 

[JT3HN86R]

That's fine, unless you have better luck than me things will move more than that when you try to put the new belt on.

Oh and just to throw it out there, I did not have to mess with any of the A/C stuff at all when I did mine. I got to the tensioner bolts with this. A 1/4" drive ratchet with a long extension and a wobble socket.

Thanks again. I assume it doesn't matter how many times you turn the crank as long as you turn it clockwise. I never even tried to get to the tensioner without removing the AC and the AC bracket. I think that was the biggest trouble I came across. It will get finished tomorrow. My Runner has 168K miles on it and it has the original belt as far as I know.

That link you posted was the best write up I have seen to date.

Thanks very much.

Joe