Timing belt jumped off cam sprocket

[trublu]

Hey guys, first time poster here. I just had a question and maybe a little reassurance. I was changing the knock sensor and after taking the #2 timing pulley out the timing belt jumped off the passenger side sprocket and is now slack on the tensioner. The timing belt needs changing so I guess that will be next after I get the intakes back on. My question is, since the belt is now slack, there is no way to turn the crank bolt to TDC before removing the old belt. Is this a problem or can I just line up the crank and cam pulleys later after I remove the old timing belt? Thanks for your help.

 

[trublu]

This is the 3vze btw

 

[Ahlem]

I'd search for timing belt replacement threads. My son did his not too long ago. If you take tension off the tensioner, I would believe you should be able to put the new belt on. Should we assume you didn't turn the crank or cam sprockets? On older BMW M20 motors, you have an interference between the valves and the tops of the pistons if the timing belt breaks. That's not a good situation and costs lots of money to fix. I don't know if these are also interference motors but it would be good to know that before you do something you regret.

 

[trublu]

No Im pretty sure none of the sprockets turned, . I feel like I can just do the timing belt per the FSM but was wondering how important it is to set the sprockets to the TDC marks before taking the old belt off. It looks to me like I can take the old belt off and then set all the sprockets to the correct marks before installing the new belt, just want to make sure im not missing anything. Thanks for your response.

 

[mikedks]

Non-interference motor, no worries with mashing the values.

I've had to replace timing belt on my 3vze twice, first was when I rebuilt the top end, second was when the water pump gasket prematurely went after 2 years. I found a great writeup from a post either on here or Yotatech from a dude describing a step by step and how to get it properly tensioned. There is a trick, and I won't try and describe it to you(not being a jerk, I can't remember)