Timing Belt Change...Keeps Avancing

[jahmes143]

Just installed a new belt and when I rotate the engine by hand the belt advances one tooth on each cam gear and the crank gear. The etched markings on the gears continue to line up perfectly with the markings on the gear housing; it's only the belt that's moving forward.

Are the white paint pen marks you're supposed to make on the gears and original belt (then transfer to the new belt) for initial installation only, such that they'll all move +1 after each full engine revolution?

Tensioner is tight.

I've rotated the engine 3 times and the belt is now 3 teeth off.

Is this normal?

 

[Rcastle]

As long as all the marks on the gears line up correctly every time it should be OK.

I just did the timing chain on a Jeep Grand Cherokee and had a similar thing. The timing marks on the gears all lined up all the time but the different color links on the chains were ina different place each revolution.

 

[mark3406e]

Yes completely normal for the line to keep moving.

 

[Ezlife45]

Think about it, do you want your rubber timing belt hitting the SAME spot on a metal sprocket every time the engine turns over? Imagine a defect on one of those sprockets cutting into the belt every revolution...

 

[jahmes143]

Thanks for the input, folks. Confirms what I read elsewhere for other vehicles. Good point about not wanting the same tooth to hit the same spot repeatedly...never thought of that.