Timing belt - timing mark alignment

[xm15]

First time doing timing belt myself, and having a little problem. According to the VFAQ I need to rotate the crank to align the timing marks on the cam sprockets, as well as the marks on the crankshaft and oil pump sprocket. The VFAQ states that it may take up to six turns of the crank to align all the marks.

I have completely rotated the crank 6 times now, and cannot get all of them to align at the same time. Not even close. The one time the crankshaft and oil pump sprocket were aligned, the cam sprocket dowels were not near the 12 o'clock position at all.

The last time the t-belt was changed it was a non-DSM mechanic that did it, so it's certainly possible it was not installed correctly to begin with, which is why I am doing it myself now.

What's my next step here?

 

[burldude]

No prob . dont worry about anything . If you have the front cover off yet which you will need to do Just pulll the belt off by loosening the tensioner. Take the number one spark plug out ( the closest one to the timing belt ) and make sure the piston is at the top of its stroke . It is a little tricky not to have interferrance with the valves when you turn the cam key ways to 12 oclock so just dont force anything , I repeat dont force anything . If need be bring the piston on number one back down to half way and then lign the dowel marks up and then you can bring the piston back up then you just need to simply ling up the the blance shafts with there corresponding marks . Put the belt on carefully and make sure that you have most of the slack out of the right hand non tensioner side . Put the tensioner back on and away you should drive . I would turn it over by hand first and make sure everything ligns up properly . Have fun !!!

 

[xm15]

Thanks. So, once the belt is off and the crank sprocket is aligned with it's timing mark at TDC, I can then turn the cam sprockets independantly and align them? Does it matter which way the cam sprockets are rotated?

 

[Boosted4]

ok check this out

all your timing marks SHOULD line up with your old belt on there. once the timing belt is off you cannot move your cam gears independently (well, a small amount, but not just turn them) this sounds like maybe you arent ready for this job, i cannot stress enough to make sure this is done right, your motor depends on it. ok the dowell pins will be in the 12 o clock position with all the marks are lined up ... remember there are timing marks on the cam gears AND dowell pins. the two marks on your cam sprockets should be directly across from each other and the dowell pins should be in the 12 oclock. sometimes it does take like 6 turns to line everything up. if you need anything else email me or just post up

Good Luck

[email protected]

Brandon

 

[xm15]

Boosted4: I know that all the timing marks SHOULD line up. However they don't, not even close. I've rotated the crank through more than 6 complete revolutions again, with no luck. I also noticed last night, that while rotating the crank at one point during each revolution, the t-belt seems to get loose and actually flexes away from the crank sprocket.

What do I need to do to get all the timing marks aligned, once I pull off the old timing belt?