3SFE 2.0L question

[GregElliott]

is it possible to rotate either the crank or cam(s) without rotating the other?
for instance, if you took the timing belt off and turned the crank but not the cam, will you mess anything up such as valves?

I guess I might be asking if it is a non-interference motor... I dunno. lol

[Kep]

If it helps, the 3sfe is a non-interference motor. You won't damage the valves but you will mess up the timing.

Kep

[Jimnist]

As kep said, but you can always just crank it over until piston 1 is at TDC(top dead centre).

You can mark it before you take it off, then it'll be easy to get the correct timing. Mark at both points; (crank and belt) and (timing and belt) with white out or Sharpie or whatever you have. Then you can match it up with ease and KNOW it is at TDC

[GregElliott]

well I'm replacing the belt... the cam sprocket(pulley) didn't turn but the crank did... just wanted to make sure I would mess anything up by turning the crank. It's about 6-10 degrees past TDC right now, can I just turn it back to zero counterclockwise or do I have to go all the way through the strokes clockwise?

[Doctor J]

Turning the crank back this much won't be a problem.
I hope you marked the old belt relative to cam and crank sprockets and transfered these marks to the new belt as were suggested in one of the posts.
This will assure correct timing phase without precision setting both sprockets to timing marks; also match marking the cam sprocket flange to the timing cover #3 will make mirror use unnecessary.