adjusting timing belt upper timing cover - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

domlcardio · 12-12-2011, 08:23 AM

I had my timing belt replaced and the timing is retarded. i believe the mechanic might have misaligned the cam gear to the circle notch instead of v notch. If i wanted to do it myself, can i adjust the timing belt by just removing the upper timing belt cover, loosening up the idler and turning the cam to the correct place, after placing piston 1 at tdc?

Pvt-Public · 12-12-2011, 10:43 AM

It is a PITA but it can be done. But then again if you paid a mechanic to do the timing belt let him make it right.

Stillrunning · 12-12-2011, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pvt-Public

if you paid a mechanic to do the timing belt let him make it right.

^^++ You can check it easily with just the top cover off.

domlcardio · 12-12-2011, 02:12 PM

so if i remove the motor mount and the v looking bracket underneath the motor mount, if the cam gear is not on right, i can just loosen up the tensioner and move the cam, correct?

Pvt-Public · 12-12-2011, 08:54 PM

Quote:

It is a PITA but it can be done.

I got the cam off by by using the wrong mark and re-adjusted it that way.

tbalon · 12-14-2011, 08:29 AM

I would also like to check and adjust the timing this way. How does your engine run with the timing retarded? How did you discover that your timing was off?

domlcardio · 12-14-2011, 08:34 AM

well once i drove it off the lot i noticed right away. i had no power bottom end and after 2500 rpm it would zoom. i took it back and noticed he did something with distributor. i read and read and learned he advanced timing. it felt good for a day and then it got a little worst so i did the same thing and advanced through distributor all the way. it felt a lot better but still not normal. bought timing light and saw it was running at about 6 degrees of advance without te1 and e1. also killing gas.

domlcardio · 12-19-2011, 08:55 AM

so i couldnt get the engine mount bracket off so i just turned the engine manually and checked the rotor and it was on cylinder one while the crank was at 0. then i did the te1 and e1 thing and timing was at 10 degrees. when i take the pin out it drops to about 6 or 7 degrees. is that a vacuum leak or leak of some sort? everything else seems to signify the cam and crank are spot on.

Pvt-Public · 12-20-2011, 04:42 AM

Unfortunately ignition timing will not tell you if the cam is timed correctly. Ignition timing is done off the crank sensor. The Cam may still be off and the distributor turned enough to put the rotor on number1. You need to really visually verify the cam is timed properly. If you can't get the top cover off, demand that the person who originally did the work verify and/or correct any problems. That's my 2 cents worth.

domlcardio · 12-20-2011, 06:51 AM

do i need to remove the engine mount bracket to be able to remove the timing cover, to at least see if cam is on?

Pvt-Public · 12-20-2011, 07:11 AM

Yep, the cover must be able to come completely off. And you will need a mirror to see straight through the hole in the cam gear you won't be able to get your head low enough to look straight through.

domlcardio · 12-20-2011, 08:23 AM

can the bracket be accessed from underneath by the wheel well?

Stillrunning · 12-20-2011, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by domlcardio

can the bracket be accessed from underneath by the wheel well?

Why are you not taking it back to the shop that did the work - they messed it up, let them fix it.