harmonic balancer TDC? - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

velorossa · 01-02-2011, 05:07 PM

With the harmonic balancer on the crankshaft, how can you tell when you are at TDC? I see there is a notch on the pulley, and timing marks on the motor (15,10,5,0 etc). Does that notch need to line up with 0 for tdc? This is for a 3vzfe motor. I know how to find tdc with the balancer off but I want to confirm it's still at tdc with everything back together.

camry6 · 01-02-2011, 05:24 PM

The 0 on the timing mark indicator is TDC for the crank. This mark, along with the marks on the camshaft against the marks on the rear camshaft shroud should all line up perfectly when the belt is installed properly.

***Mister_Perkins*** · 01-03-2011, 10:05 AM

Pull one of your spark plugs off and put a long straw down the spark plug tube. If its exactly TDC the straw will touch the top of the piston. This is a useful method when trying to determine the compression stroke too

camry6 · 01-03-2011, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mister_Perkins

Pull one of your spark plugs off and put a long straw down the spark plug tube. If its exactly TDC the straw will touch the top of the piston. This is a useful method when trying to determine the compression stroke too

Note: Pull the spark plug from #1 cylinder. #1 cylinder is at TDC when the crank marks are aligned. This is always the reference cylinder.