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Timing belt reference marks

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by waslydog, Apr 14, 2012.

  1. Apr 14, 2012 at 7:25 PM
    #1
    waslydog

    waslydog [OP] Member

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    Just replaced T/ belt on my 97 3.4. Aligned reference marks on cams and crank, turned 2 rotations. Reference points no longer align but timing marks on cams and crank do. Aesthetics, or potential problem?? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
     
  2. Apr 14, 2012 at 7:28 PM
    #2
    waslydog

    waslydog [OP] Member

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    May have found my answer on this older post. Sorry for the rehash
     
  3. May 26, 2012 at 9:13 PM
    #3
    Jaren1512

    Jaren1512 Well-Known Member

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    hey just redid mine and lined up the top pullys but the lower notch was a hair to the right of the 0. is that a problem?
     
  4. May 26, 2012 at 9:24 PM
    #4
    Rich91710

    Rich91710 Well-Known Member

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    Everything lined up on the reference marks on the belt?
    If so, everything is fine.

    To the OP, ya... your belt has more teeth than the wheels, and it's not an even multiple.
    This is a good thing because it means that a different tooth on the belt comes into contact with a different tooth on the wheel with each revolution of the belt.
    Believe it or not, this is a big consideration when selecting sprocket sizes for camshafts, motorcycle chains, etc...

    Keep rotating the engine and eventually... could be 10 or 20 rotations... the marks on the belt will again line up with all of the pulley marks.
     
  5. May 26, 2012 at 9:50 PM
    #5
    MapleMoose

    MapleMoose Drunk Canadian

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    Are we talking about the marks that are painted on?
     
  6. May 26, 2012 at 9:58 PM
    #6
    Rich91710

    Rich91710 Well-Known Member

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    Yes, the marks that are painted onto the belt compared to the marks on the pulleys.

    As long as those marks are lined up, it doesn't matter if you're a little off on the crank pulley alignment on the block... that's only important for removing and replacing the distributor (on engines that have one) and for determining TDC for other operations.
     
  7. May 26, 2012 at 10:06 PM
    #7
    MapleMoose

    MapleMoose Drunk Canadian

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    Why are the marks on the belt so important? I cant remember exactly, but i think when i did mine the marks werent perfect. You would think that as long as your cams are all aligned with the engine, you wouldnt be off time?
     
  8. May 26, 2012 at 10:13 PM
    #8
    koco

    koco Well-Known Member

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    Mine did the same thing. as long as you lined it up and nothing slipped during install, you're fine. Even when the crank pulley notch is lined up with the timing tab, the cams won't be even with their marks.
     
  9. May 26, 2012 at 10:24 PM
    #9
    MapleMoose

    MapleMoose Drunk Canadian

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    Ya, i spent hours trying to line them all up. I gave up and realized i probably only need to line up the cam marks and the bottom belt line
     
  10. May 26, 2012 at 10:37 PM
    #10
    Rich91710

    Rich91710 Well-Known Member

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    The marks on the belt ensure that there are "X" teeth between the cam and crank on one side and "Y" teeth on the other side.
    With the tensioner, that length is no longer equal, and of course it's way different on a V6.

    Manufacturers have moved to marking the belts rather than the block because it is a lot easier to align two, three, or 5 pulleys with marks on the belt than it is on the block.
     
  11. May 26, 2012 at 10:47 PM
    #11
    Rich91710

    Rich91710 Well-Known Member

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    Hours?

    Really?

    Wow.

    I did the entire job on my 4.7 Tundra in 6, and that included the water pump, thermostat, timing belt, all hoses, serp belt, and a complete coolant change.
    Only reason it took 6 was the dealer gave me the wrong serp belt and I had to exchange it.

    SC00247.jpg
    SC00250.jpg
    SC00251.jpg
     
  12. May 26, 2012 at 10:58 PM
    #12
    MapleMoose

    MapleMoose Drunk Canadian

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    Well... not hours. I was exaggerating. It was my first time doing a timing belt job. I did everything including tbelt, water pump, thermostat, and coolant. I work full time and was doing it after work. I think it took me a total of 10 hrs over a week. But i had some help with the tbelt install and alignment.

    I learn by doing it. Probly the most time consuming mechanical job ive done. To be honest i cant exactly remember what we aligned. All i know is that it runs perfect and there is no off timing

    Before
    [​IMG]
     
  13. May 26, 2012 at 11:04 PM
    #13
    Rich91710

    Rich91710 Well-Known Member

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    Ya, I kinda figured it was an exaggeration :D

    I did mine on a Saturday. My boss let me use the warehouse as a place to work on my vehicles since I live in a condo complex. Saved big bucks on that job.
    It was the first time I'd done a belt on a V8. I'd done a couple of belts on a Mercury Tracer (Mazda GLC/323) and a Pinto.
    I did have the factory service manual procedure, but a couple of the steps were a bit off. The cover assembly is a jigsaw puzzle and items have a specific order they MUST be removed and reinstalled or the next item won't go.
     
  14. May 27, 2012 at 12:33 PM
    #14
    koco

    koco Well-Known Member

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    I have seen 2 versions of the FSM for the order of installing the belt. The older one has you wrap the belt around the crank pulley first. The newer one has you wrap the belt around the left cam pulley first. I wish they'd make up my mind.
     

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