Timing 2000 5VZ FE Gen 3 4Runner for the first time

[BCW Austin]

HI All, New to this website. I have watched the videos and downloaded Chiltons online manual and can time a BMW, but I have having trouble for some reason on this 4Runner. Bought the complete kit on line with all the parts. I get the left and right cams and belt marks all lined up, get the crankshaft mark lined up, put the tensioner back on, pull the pin and rotate the engine several times by hand and all the marks have moved? The marks on the belt are several groves ahead of the cam marks and the crankshaft mark is no longer visable. I have redone it 3 times and cannot see what I am missing? Any pointers would be greatly appreciated

 

[sterbenlicht]

Those marks won't line up again after rotating the engine. Well maybe after x-number of turns, but they will be off. If you get both marks on the belt lined up with the notches on the cams, and the mark on the belt lined up with the mark on the crank, then you're good. Put it all together and fire it up.

Oh, and be sure to properly torque the crank bolt!

 

[BCW Austin]

Thanks to the quick response. I continued searching and found a similar response. I also found a mention that I had experienced that you have to back off on the crank a tooth or two to take up the slack when you put the new belt on or by the time you release the tensioner your mark will move.

None of the videos or installation instructions say the marks wont line up again so it was very frustrating and kept me up at night trying to figure out what I was doing wrong.

Thanks again.

Barry