Aligning the timing belt... - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

themdg · 09-01-2009, 12:26 AM

Working on my 02 Avalon. So I was finally able to remove the parts to get to the timing belt, and I have that removed as well. I tried to mark the old belt/sprockets, but blew it.

The bottom line is, I have the belt off, and need to align a new one with no marks that I made previously. It has three marks of it's own.

I read some threads and poked through my confusing book. Step 1 seems to get the 3 sprockets lined up with their alignment marks. So, I turned the crankshaft clockwise until the marks lined up. I turned the front cam sprocket clockwise until it's marks lined up...it kinda sproinged into place. I turned the back cam sprocket clockwise until it's marks lined up. Also...sproing.

So, now the new belt needs to go on. It's a Gates brand belt, and has 3 marks on it. Two thin lines, and one other line next to some <<<<< arrows and "FR". I assume that this means point the belt towards the front of the engine (passenger side).

My question is...are these 3 lines on the belt supposed to line up with anything? They don't seem to line up with the same marks on the sprockets. My book mentions something about lining the belt up with the tb covers. I see the lower cover has 0 5 10 15 on the ouside, but I don't see that lines up with one of those lines.

Can someone point me in the right direction in getting this belt in correctly? I'm ready to put this sucker back together.

themdg · 09-01-2009, 12:41 AM

Found these two documents:

Avalon TB PDF 1
Avalon TB PDF 2

They seem to explain what I'm asking. I think I'm aligning my rear cam sprocket incorrectly. That could account for all the lines not lining up correctly. Heading out to try again.

themdg · 09-01-2009, 04:59 AM

Ok, that worked. That is a nice chart and directions on that pdf.

Started it up, seems to be running good. Only thing is...the AC no longer blows cold. Before the TB work, it was cold as ice...willing to sacrafice.

Could that be my TB being off a knotch? Or the AC pump belt too loose?

csaxon · 09-01-2009, 09:55 PM

Nice job. I'd snug up the belt before checking anything else.

themdg · 09-01-2009, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by csaxon

Nice job. I'd snug up the belt before checking anything else.

It's nice and tight. I wonder if it's too tight.

I'll have my kid turn on and off the AC while I stand at the engine. I don't think the compressor is coming on. Must have hosed up a connection while I jimmied that bundle of cables around to get the upper cover on/off. I'll look and see if anything is unplugged.

themdg · 09-03-2009, 12:06 AM

Found it. The book was having me remove a relay for something I never actually found. While I was looking, I loosened up some relays. One was still loose. Plugged it back in and back to cold as ice.

Funny how much you (or at least I) second guess things after major work like the TB. I hopped in to take it for a spin and was noticing all types of stuff that was WAY off. "Were these brakes always this squishy?" "Did it always make that sound?" "Where did that flicker come from?" "I swear this shifter knob is 2 inches higher than it used to be!" "Why is this music so loud?" Paranoia.

I plugged in the code reader and got "No Codes" which made me feel great. I think I'm good as new!