Timing belt questions

I’m doing the timing belt on my 02 Tacoma. I bought a pretty nice kit but the new belt doesn’t have any marks on it, neither does the old on. Do the marks on the belt really matter? If it does matter could someone help me know the number of teeth in between the mark on the crank and cams? Thanks for the help!

 

you should line up the marks on your crank and cams before you start...
Timing Belt on a 2002 Tacoma V6
Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by Monster1, Nov 13, 2012.

 

I did line up the the marks on the crank and Cam. And that’s why I’m wondering if the marks on the belt even matter since the crank and cams are lined up.

 

The marks are just marks.
They only help to verify the belt is in time on installation.

That said, I’ve never seen anyone NOT align with the marks.

Really strange your belt has no marks.

 

FWIW, here is the only thing I found as to “teeth count” after installation.

 

It’s not necessary for the belt to have marks. Most don’t have any. You just need to line up the marks in the engine and sprockets. Then install the belt in the appropriate order per instructions. the tension will be set once you do the tensioner step. After that just rotate the engine by hand to ensure the timing marks line up again on the compression stroke. This step ensure you’re not off be a tooth.

 

Thank you so much for the help!

 

It's doable without the marks, they just give you a visual indicator that it's installed correctly. The biggest trouble you will have is getting all the slack out of the belt between the crank gear and the water pump pulley. That area must be tight as a tiger, and the slack needs to be in the section with the tensioner pulley.

My method is to clamp the belt to the cam pulleys, then wind the belt clockwise around the pulleys and under the crank gear, then, while holding it tight with one hand, install the tensioner pulley with the other hand. It can be frustrating and it may take a few tries to get the belt tight on the right-hand side. If there's any slack between the water pump and crank gear, it's wrong.

Once you've got it together how I described, let the tensioner out and rotate the engine two full turns. If you did it properly the cam pulleys and crank gear will still be aligned at top dead center.

 

Oh, and one trick I learned if you're having trouble getting the belt to seat around the crank gear... adjust the driver side cam pulley a couple millimeters forward until you get the belt seated how you want, then line it back up with it's mark before proceeding.

 

The secret to it is when you release the tensioner....that the slack doesn't roll the cam backwards 1 tic......
happens all the time.......then your screwed.....wont start.......