85 Camry Cam Bearings Question - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

Netwriter · 10-12-2005, 03:11 AM

I just bought an 85 four cylinder Camry from a junk yard for $75. The car has 110K and is in immaculate shape inside and out with new tires. It had a broken timing belt. I put a new timing belt on and it started on the first crank and sounded great. Everything works; windows, sun roof, stereo, transmission, even the antenna goes up and down.

I put it in gear and drove it just a short ways, and as the RPM came up it jumped timing. The tension pulley turns smoothly and the spring is in tact. The water pump turns freely so the only thing left to cause the jump logically seems to be the cam. I purchased a set of cam bearings and am about to attempt replacing them. Problem is that the Haynes manual does not mention them even one time or show them in the exploded view of the cam housing.
Has anyone had this timing jump problem, or experience with replacing the cam bearings who can give me some advice?

Thanks,
Gary

88 LE · 10-12-2005, 06:44 AM

http://www.autozone.com/servlet/UiBr...3d8013e6a5.jsp

rat42 · 10-12-2005, 11:01 AM

i would look at the pullies very carefully before changing the bearings.

Gary_602Z · 10-12-2005, 05:18 PM

I doubt that it is cam bearings! If they were loose enough to cause a problem you would have big time engine noise. Probably a running problem also.

Gary

fredk · 10-12-2005, 07:10 PM

leave the plastic covers off and get it going again and watch it

terumivato · 10-13-2005, 01:00 AM

If the cam is binding you might need another head. And if so you better ck the oil psi so it does'nt happen again. You got a set of cam bearings or the upper half of the caps ?

Netwriter · 10-14-2005, 02:07 AM

I appreciate the feed back. I will time it back up and leave the covers off. Will take a hard look at the pulleys while doing that. The bearing set I got are full ring bearings so the cam will have to come completely out of the cam housing to install them. Will hold off installing them till I am sure that is the problem.

Another question. After the timing belt is installed, should I tighten the bolt that holds the tension pulley or leave it loose so the tension pulley can travel? I tightened it once the belt was in place last time. Again, the Haynes manual is worthless. I also drive an 86 Toyota MR2 and have the big green book (Toyota Shop Manual) for it.

Thanks again,
Gary

88 LE · 10-14-2005, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Netwriter

After the timing belt is installed, should I tighten the bolt that holds the tension pulley or leave it loose so the tension pulley can travel?

Tighten the bolt. You don't want the tensioner to move.