URGENT/Which spring for tensioner

[irishdad]

Hi all, I have a 1996 Toyota Camry LE(2.2L, 4 cyl) and I am changing the timing belt. The kit came with two(2) springs and I am not sure which one(spring) to use for the timing belt tensioner. The two springs are both the same length as the old one, but there is a difference in the number of loops. Can anyone tell me which spring? I know there was some kind of update or change to these springs but I'm not sure about that. Can someone help? Got the car apart in the driveway now!

[Stillrunning]

Which one looks more like the one you're replacing?

[TedL]

No instructions with kit? No help from supplier? No help from seller?

[JohnGD]

Are these different colors?

Supposedly Gen 3 uses the silver spring tightened at 0 TDC, and Gen 4 uses the green spring tightened at 45 BTDC. If they're both the same color then I vaguely remember something about 13 coils.

Also, are the coil ends flat (Gen 4) compared to each other or perpendicular (Gen 3)?

Edit: Ok, looks like Gen 3 and Gen 4 are now the same spring. According to this you shouldn't use one with 10 coils, it's supposedly outdated. Toyota TSB EG001-99; January 29, 1999: For 1992-96. Sounds like Gen 3 and Gen 4 are now tensioned the same way at 45 BTDC if the spring is green.

http://www.2carpros.com/questions/to...will-not-start

[irishdad]

Wow, I thought I only had to align the mark behind the cam pulley when the crank pulley is at zero--how do you get a spring to 45 BTDC?? I guessed on which spring to use and from your reply it looks like we used the correct one. After that we got the timing belt on and we lined up the mark behind the cam pulley with the crank pulley mark at zero. Turned the crank pulley twice and the mark on the cam is now behind one of the cam pulley spokes. Did it once without putting the crank pulley on - just put the crank bolt in and turned. Then we had a VEERY difficult time getting the crank bolt on. Next time we put the crank pulley on and tried again. We keep getting the mark behind the cam off a little bit (just behind the spoke with the hole in it--but not directly behind the hole) Close but no cigar. Very frustrated. If anyone has a simple way to do the timing (when the belt broke and wasn't there to mark, along with marking the cam & crank pulley & just matching everything up later) I would love to know it. Pictures would be helpful. Thanks everybody for all the help in the past and any more advice you may have to offer now.

[JohnGD]

Loosen the tensioner bolt so you have some play in the belt to the point where you can turn the cam sprocket (using a breaker bar and socket on the bolt makes it easy) while leaving the belt in place. This way you can "fine tune" the marks to be spot on.
Then do the tensioning step.

[irishdad]

It is kind of hard to hold the tensioner down to do the adjusting. Is there a "special trick" that would help out? Or should I unhook the spring until the belt is on and the marks at the cam and crank pulleys are correct?

[71Corolla]

Originally Posted by irishdad

It is kind of hard to hold the tensioner down to do the adjusting. Is there a "special trick" that would help out? Or should I unhook the spring until the belt is on and the marks at the cam and crank pulleys are correct?

Line up the marks, put on the belt, then put on the spring. There is no special procedure to doing it, but what does help to get the belt on is rotate the camshaft slightly clockwise after you have the mark lined up, this aids getting the belt to go on otherwise it can be very difficult. Rotate the cam counter-clockwise using moderate pressure, enough to take up any slack. Tighten the tensioner bolt. Rotate the engine a few times to make sure the belt is still tight and then check your marks again.