89 4AF timing marks - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

T800 · 01-05-2005, 03:19 AM

Hello, I went out to start the car after it sat a few days in the cold. It started ok, backed up and it died. The only way it would show signs of starting is when I advanced the distributor. It has 175,000 on its second belt so I figured it skipped a tooth or two.
Went to R/R the belt and found it to be in ok condition. Not to much deflection, all the marks line up at TDC. I replaced it anyhow makeing sure crank and cam were aligned ,tensioner was fine and working. I have a Haynes manual to refer to. Replaced the rotor it was a little loose on the shaft.Reset the distributor to its original setting and tryed to start it. NO GO. I advanced the distributor and it started and ran fine.

OK, Recap. Cam gear is set w/ the hole in the sprocket at 12 o'clock where the mark is on the head. Rotor pointing at #1 on distbutor. Piston at TDC at compresion stroke.Crank is set w/ the pully mark at the zero mark on the cover. I did not look to see if the crank gear mark is aligned w/ the mark on the oil pump housing.Question: Are those two marks one of the same? I have yet to tear it down and check if the crank gear marks are aligned.

There is an arrow mark on the cover before TDC. Could that be the mark for the crank pully to align instead of zero? It would account for the need to advance the distributor to get it running.I did go over the distributor and all is well. Signal rotor is were it should be.

I hope some one can shed some light on this head scratcher.

CCTF · 01-05-2005, 06:57 AM

We have an 89 4AF that had starting problems a while ago. We went through the same steps as you. Timing was right, had spark but would not go. Turned out to be a bad coil. Spark was there but not hot enough. We bought a used distributor at the wreckers, put it in and it runs perfectly now. Not sure if this helps but maybe you could check the spark strength some how.

T800 · 01-05-2005, 08:34 AM

Thanks Bob for the reply. Back in june of 04 the igniter went on me, so I bought a new igniter and coil and just before that new plugs,cap,wires and rotor. Once its running after advancing the distributor, it run great. It seems its a matter of having the crank and cam properly in alignment.