3VZ-FE Timing Belt issues

[Lanceis]

I am attempting to reset the timing (after replacing head gaskets) and replace the timing belt on a 92 ES300. The new belt has 3 alignment marks that we can get to all marked points on the pulleys. It does not seem that if the crank is at TDC (0 deg) the the cams "exactly" line up, seeming to off by 1/2 a tooth. We can get them close. However, our big problem seems to be that after one full rotation of the cam pulleys, the crank is at 5 deg. advanced after starting at TDC. Any ideas or thoughts? Thank you.

[marc780]

I had the same problem and i think i know whats happening here ...perhaps you are confusing the belt marks, with the alignment marks on the pulleys and engine. Its an easy mistake to make but just remember the follwing tips and this belt change will come out fine:
The marks on the belt are for installation, ONLY! Once the crank is rotated even two turns, they will not align with anything, and this is normal and how they are supposed to be...!

Just do your initial belt installation exactly how toyota says to do it: Align the pulley marks with the engine marks. (Make certain you are at TDC on the crank, its possible to be 180 degrees off.) Install your new belt with the belt marks lining up with the pulley and engine marks. Reinstall your tensioner. Double check your marks. Now rotate the engine twice (clockwise facing engine). Check the alignment of pulley marks and engine marks, ONLY - forget all about the belt marks, they will not align with anything now (because you rotated the engine). Double check your work, attach the battery and start the engine and let it run for no more than 30 seconds or a minute (because your belts arent on now nor do they need to be just for a function check). Make sure it idles like it did before you started, which it should. Then put everything back together.

[Lanceis]

thanks, we will give that a try!-

[marc780]

so howd that work out for you lance

[llcoolpass]

i think when the crank is literally one degree or more off, you didn't do the hyd tensioner installation proper. you make it off a little on purpose before installing it, such that the hyd tensr, once installed, makes it all line up. or get lucky by just sticking a bunch of slack on that side [firewall].
if it looks like half a degree off or someting, that's normal tolerances, usually. without seeing it , i can't say for sure.

i bet the fact that the belt has some handy dandy convenient dots is throwing people off who are new to this.

i dont see why you have to use dots on the belts to do the timing job. perhaps ppl should be adviced to ignore the damn dots on the belt? hhaha

so i agree with you that the belt dots won't line up after one rotation.

and like you im wondering if it all worked out for this toyota person, particularly his/her head gasket job..

[marc780]

dont see why you have to use dots on the belts to do the timing job. perhaps ppl should be adviced to ignore the damn dots on the belt? hhaha

the main problems when changing a timing belt are caused by confusion i think, here are some common mistakes (and the first things to check if difficulty is encountered during the belt change):

-Crankshaft mark may have been 180 degrees off and not at TDC. (normally if the camshaft pulley marks line up at the same time as your crank mark, you can be pretty sure you are at TDC though.)

-The belt (for V6 at least) should have the three alignment stripes. (if they are not legible or missing for some reason, the old belt should be used to mark the new one).

-the belt probably also has a fourth mark, an arrow showing either direction of rotation (of the engine) or pointing out away from the engine. Usually the fourth mark would have writing on there too to help you install the belt right.
So in other words, pay attention to the fourth mark or its possible, on some engines, to have all your marks line up but your belt is actually on backwards.
If the forth mark is absent, again you can use your old belt to help orientate the new one (by matching the new belt marks to the old belt as installed and making your own arrow with white out.)

i think when the crank is literally one degree or more off, you didn't do the hyd tensioner installation proper. you make it off a little on purpose before installing it, such that the hyd tensr, once installed, makes it all line up. or get lucky by just sticking a bunch of slack on that side [firewall].

Many people have apparently had this problem but i found that its not hard to avoid...you can make all the belt marks line up with all the dots on engine and pulleys easily.
When you install the belt, start at the crankshaft gear. Use a zip tie or cord to lightly hold it in place, then place your belt on the water pump pulley (under i think but i forget, its all in my detailed post under "V6 timing belt" search). then move up top and put the belt on your front cam pulley. Snake it under the top tensioner then try to put it on the rear pulley, the belt will probably not line up now. So just take a 17mm wrench, turn the front cam pulley just a little bit in the CCW direction. Now your belt and all the dots should line up.

If you have everything lined up like this and took the tension out by doing the previous step, all the marks ought to be dead on.