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Timing help please...

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by AviateGW, May 22, 2015.

  1. May 22, 2015 at 3:26 PM
    #1
    AviateGW

    AviateGW [OP] Well-Known Member

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    16x8 KONIG Countersteer Offroads from FN, OME/881s in front, OME shocks/Dakar leafs in back. K&N CAI, and last, but not least, TRD Shift knob.
    Cam1.jpg Cam2.jpg Gents,

    I could use some advice.

    I did a dumb thing and tucked my cam position sensor bundle behind the timing cover when I put the front end back together after a water pump/timing belt change.

    For a brief period of time, the truck ran better than new. I went on a test drive. All was well until the timing belt chewed through the connector and wiring bundle/pig-tail of the cam position sensor. I was able to limp home, but, the truck would not accelerate, and, would die if I let the rpms drop too low.

    (I've picked up the new wiring connector and CPS and will splice them into what's left of the wiring that leads to the ECM.)

    I've pulled it apart again, and now, no matter how many times I rotate the engine, I can't get the three timing marks to line up.

    Can I pull the mangled timing belt off and simply manually turn my crank and two cam pulleys until they all line up? If (when?) I do this, will I run the risk of mangling the valves on one or both sides of the heads?

    Any help would be appreciated...
     
  2. May 22, 2015 at 4:01 PM
    #2
    Dirty Pool

    Dirty Pool FLIES ON THE FRIES, KETCHUPS WATERED DOWN

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    It appears that the t-belt has jumped a few teeth. When the crank shaft marks line up, both cam marks should line up or both be 180 degrees off. You could start again if the original marks are still on the belt. Line up both cams and the crank then install the belt. I would not use that belt even if the marks are still on it, hard to tell from the pic. That's going to be your call. Valves will not hit the pistons on this engine so no worries there.
    Keep in mind all 3 pulley/engine marks will line up every 2 revolutions of the crank. In between, the cams (both) will be 180 deg off. After everything is lined up and the belt installed with it's marks in the right spots, subsequent revolutions of the crank will not bring the belt marks back to their "as installed" spots. The pulley/engine marks will always align every 2 turns of the crank.
    This assumes that the cam pulley alignment dowel pin/s did not shear.
     
    NAAC3TACO likes this.
  3. May 22, 2015 at 6:12 PM
    #3
    cruxofthebisquit

    cruxofthebisquit Well-Known Member

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    OME and worth every penny.
    My experience is that those marks (on the belt)are only for installation, they'll only line up again every 12 revolutions or more (?) Something about 1 more notch than teeth for them or something. Do a search..it freaked me out last time I did one and spun after installation countless times trying to get it lined back up 'just to check'.


    play with it as you want though...you won't hit valves...it non-interference.

    In short, the 'timing marks' on the engine though WILL line up every other turn....just don't expect the belt to be in the 'same place'. It will gain a little every turn
     
    Last edited: May 22, 2015
  4. May 22, 2015 at 7:26 PM
    #4
    NightProwler

    NightProwler Well-Known Member

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    Yep just take the belt off. Manually rotate the cams in position. Be careful and go slow because they are super springy. They want to jump back out of place if you crank it fast. Then make sure the crank is at tdc and lined up. Reinstall new belt. Rotate a couple revs to make sure timing is still good. The belt marks may jump but it's fine as long as timing is still good.
     
    Last edited: May 22, 2015
  5. May 23, 2015 at 8:43 AM
    #5
    AviateGW

    AviateGW [OP] Well-Known Member

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    16x8 KONIG Countersteer Offroads from FN, OME/881s in front, OME shocks/Dakar leafs in back. K&N CAI, and last, but not least, TRD Shift knob.
    Okay, the belt is off.

    My cam pulley marks are lined up with the marks on the backing plates (you weren't kidding on the jumping tendency of the cams, thought I was about to break my wrist...), and, I've turned my crank so that the timing mark lines up.

    Is there any way I can tell that my cams are lined up on the compression stroke at TDC, as opposed to the exhaust stroke? I think that each rotation of the cam will only alternate it between the compression and exhaust cycles. What if I have one cam on the compression half of the cycle and somehow have the other cam on the exhaust half of the cycle?
     
  6. May 23, 2015 at 10:21 AM
    #6
    Dirty Pool

    Dirty Pool FLIES ON THE FRIES, KETCHUPS WATERED DOWN

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    Dirty Pool rear bumper/air tank with integrated spare CV shaft storage, DP customized TJM front bumper, 8000 lb Ramsey/Technora rope, E-locked, Extended breathers with front diff catch can, PCV catch can, SAWs with DP heim joint seals, DP custom 6 leaf rear springs/Billies, DP custom skids, 2lo, Gray wire, Cap, Bed Rug, Black steelies, 01 Center console, Map lights, Disraeli gears
    Yes, with all 3 pulley marks lined up, it's in #1 firing position, period. If it was at TDC exhaust stroke the cam pulley marks would be 180 deg off (at the bottom). Remember the crank turns twice for each revolution of the cams.
     
    Last edited: May 23, 2015
  7. May 25, 2015 at 2:31 PM
    #7
    AviateGW

    AviateGW [OP] Well-Known Member

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    16x8 KONIG Countersteer Offroads from FN, OME/881s in front, OME shocks/Dakar leafs in back. K&N CAI, and last, but not least, TRD Shift knob.
    Thanks guys!!

    I'm back up and running. My truck is running well...

    However, I am noticing a lower idle than I had prior to the timing belt change. Warm, it's idling around 500 rpm... is this unusual?
     
    Thecoma234 likes this.
  8. May 25, 2015 at 7:30 PM
    #8
    CD20H

    CD20H Well-Known Member

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    Did you disconnect the battery at some point? If you did......the ECM is relearning the fuel trims and will smooth out and go back to normal.
     
    Thecoma234, AviateGW[OP] and TACO626 like this.
  9. Jun 2, 2015 at 6:25 PM
    #9
    AviateGW

    AviateGW [OP] Well-Known Member

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    16x8 KONIG Countersteer Offroads from FN, OME/881s in front, OME shocks/Dakar leafs in back. K&N CAI, and last, but not least, TRD Shift knob.
    Thanks again, gents.

    I did disconnect my battery for a few days as I did, and re-did, the work. After I got the truck put back together, things were weird for the first 10-15 miles.

    It would take several seconds of cranking for the truck to start, and, it would idle much lower than normal, 400-500 rpms. As well, it would hesitate on partial throttle acceleration, as though there was too much, or too little, fuel getting to the cylinders.

    After about 15 miles, my truck is running like it was before I did the work. I will check the gas mileage after this tank, but I think I'm back to normal.

    I will get around to adding a thread with my experiences with the timing belt/water pump change. All in all, it wasn't too difficult (with the exception of the a/c bracket), just time consuming.

    Thanks Dirty Pool and Toendanger: If we ever meet, beers are on me.
     
    Thecoma234 likes this.
  10. Mar 21, 2022 at 6:02 AM
    #10
    Thecoma234

    Thecoma234 New Member

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    Pretty old thread but wanted to post on here because the above 2 comments are what I needed to read about ECM and disconnecting the battery while working on TB/WP.

    Had mine disconnected for about a week doing the job, when reconnected battery, started truck, and put in reverse it slowly stalled, hasn’t happened again and truck is driving beautifully after driving for a little bit. Thanks for the peace of mind
     
  11. Mar 22, 2022 at 12:42 PM
    #11
    AviateGW

    AviateGW [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Black '99 3.4 SR5 4x4. OME/Dakar
    16x8 KONIG Countersteer Offroads from FN, OME/881s in front, OME shocks/Dakar leafs in back. K&N CAI, and last, but not least, TRD Shift knob.

    I had completely forgotten about this episode of buffoonery. Damn... I do some dumb things from time to time. It's almost time to tackle this job again. Let's hope I learned something.

    Still, TW is golden. Love this forum.
     
    Thecoma234[QUOTED] likes this.

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