V6 gen 2 Timing belt question

[88' camry v6 LE]

I've just changed out my timing belt and water pump and I'm wondering if I should be worried about mt TDC marks...
This is not my first timing belt job that I've done by the way.

I have pulled off the "new" timing belt 3 times to line up all the TDC marks on the pulleys. The problem that I'm having is when I put the timing belt tensioner on,my TDC marks move. I'm sure this has to do with the slack in the belt. I wanted to double check my work with turning the engine 2 full turns and then rechecking the TDC markings. After rechecking the marks I found that both my camshaft marks were off 2 to 3 teeth.

However... I decided to start the car... and it started right up and seems to be running fine. I got out the timing light to check the crankshaft pulleyTDC marks... and it was right on? but with the car off, when rechecking the TDC marks they are not all lining up like they did before. Any help would be appreciated.

The crankshaft timing mark is lined up @ "0" in all of these checks that I did.

Thanks, Jon

[toyomoho]

How are you installing the belt? Is the crank at the TDC 0 degree mark with the No 1 piston at TDC?

The link below may help you. It is for a 5VZ-FE but should be the same proceedure as your engine.

http://yotarepair.com/PDF%20files/5V..._belt_inst.pdf

Check step no 13.

If the marks are off once the belt slack is taken out and the crank turned 2 times CW, remove the belt and move the pulley(s) forward or back to compensate for this then reinstall the belt.

[new echo owner]

What marks are you referring to? Marks on the belt or marks on the backplate for the cam gears?

N.E.O.

[88' camry v6 LE]

Originally Posted by new echo owner

What marks are you referring to? Marks on the belt or marks on the backplate for the cam gears?

N.E.O.

TDC marks in both cam gears and crank pulley

[new echo owner]

Since the tensioner is on the back side, I usually try to take up all the slack between the crank pulley, the front cam gear, and rear cam gear towards the back of the engine; in other words, start with the crank gear, and put the belt on in that order. Clothes clips would help in keeping the timing belt on the cam gears. After you have the belt on, install the tensioner without removing the retaining pin, check all the timing marks to make sure they are still aligned. Then release the retainer and rotate the engine. Recheck all the marks again.

N.E.O.

[malayan]

If you check the timing with a light and it idicates the timing is correct then my GUESS is that the timing is Correct and you must not only have the cm geaar marks that are off but also the crank must have moved as well.

In short this means that all the gears would be off a couple notches and the timing is correct by the light.

It would be hard to prove as the crank mark is blocked by the pulley and timing cover.

It the belt must have moved on the crank too. While you were trying to get the others lined up.

Looks like if one cam is on with the distibutor and the crank then the timing willshow on but 1 cam will be off. THANKS NEO

Good Luck!

[new echo owner]

There still maybe question about the cam timing on the front head even if the timing is correct by the timing light. In other words, since the dist is driven by the cam in the rear head, if the timing on the rear cam gear is correct with the crank gear, the timing light check would still be correct. However, it won't indicate if the front cam is correct or not.

N.E.O.