3.4 Timing belt replacement one tooth off

So I just purchased a 1998 Tacoma with the 3.4 engine and not long after I got it it came up with a check engine light. When I scanned it, it was knock sensor code bank 1, did some research on here and found previous owner had done the jumper wire trick, needless to say I ordered all the parts to change the knock sensors etc.

Well once I got into it and took the top timing belt cover off I seen how badly cracked the timing belt was so back to ordering more parts.

My question is, when I got the front end apart and was lining up all the marks before removing the belt, it was one tooth off, cam marks lined up and crank was a tooth off.... engine ran fine before and I turned it over numerous times and would always line up one tooth off.
anyone else run into this?

I have a factory service manual I ordered should be arriving any day so I will double check what it says in there for lining up but it seems weird.

Thanks for any insight!

 

during my subaru DOHC Tbelt trial and tribulation....(12 T marks....ugh)
after lining up all marks, then pulling pin and rotating engine twice
i kept getting one tooth off as well
i then tried placing belt one tooth forward on slack side of the cam gears for grins
pulled pin/rotated twice.....SUCCESS....all 12 marks perfect
now tht is a EJ25

here is a thread (kinda describing your issue) with vid too for 3.4L tacos
GL

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/difficulty-with-timing-belt-change.852826/#post-30455667

 

Ya, I haven't even got to putting the belt on yet, I'm changing Cam and Crank seals before I put the belt on, I just thought it was weird that it ran like a top with the belt one tooth off, before I took the tensioner off.
Well I'll make sure they are lined up during re assembly.

Thanks,

Todd

 

I actually had a car with the timing belt off like three teeth and it would run but bog down with very little power. I had actually bought the car to resale so it took me a minute to figure it out.

Your truck will be fine and you may find that it performs better when you get it back together. Good luck!

 

It's a testament to how solid these trucks are. Cracked timing belt, off one tooth and it still drives so well nobody noticed

 

In my opinion, the 3.4 was the friendliest most forgiving engine Toyota ever built.
Definitely wasn't the most powerful by any means. (Not much more power than a 2.7)
They just ran. And NEVER complained.

 

I drew a line in the sand at work, I don't work on anything older than 2000. Just won't do it.


The exception? Toyota of course..

Maybe a clean Honda too

 

Toyota 3.4 V6, all the power of a 4 cylinder, with the gas mileage of a V8!