Recently we had our 97 Celica GT worked on, the mechanic did the timing but because of time we didn't have plugs wires cap, rotor done we wanted to have him do it but he was getting real busy, so to save some time and money I decided to DIY what could possibly go wrong I figured since I have done minor tuneups on older Toyotas should be no problem. Boy was I wrong! After changing the plugs I proceeded to change the cap and rotor only to find the cap unlike older models has bolts and no clips, well the lower bolt was really hard to get at and I didn't have the right socket, so I did the next best thing, so I thought, I took out the distributor so I could take off the cap, without marking TDC. After removing the bolts I took off the cap and put on the rotor and the holes on the new cap didn't quite align with the old one, I put both new and old cap side to side and it's the correct replacement part, well at first I put the distributor back in that way, only to find that as I tightened the only bolt that hold the distributor in place, the distributor was coming out of alignment. So I figured it doesn't require much torque, not having connected the wires to the plugs, I then realized the cap was on wrong with the cylinder numbers in different order, So I took out the distributor again, reset the cap and put it back in, still without keeping TDC in mind, connected the plugs including center coil, went to fire it up, it tried to stars sounded like it was on 2 cylinders tried again, funny noise was made not sure what, haven't tried since. So did I screw up the timing? Did I screw up the distributor, both, I'm at a loss and I don't want to keep cranking on it and do more damage, If I need to do TDC now will I need a timing gun or can I just do the turn the crankshaft deal, and I"m still without a way to get the cap off without taking out the distributor. If only they had stuck with clips this would not have happened, Please help if you can. I will try to get some before and after pics on here ASAP. I just talked to someone who knows about Celica's and she says I threw off my timing, not to mess with it because the motor could seize up and just take it to the shop. I guess I have no choice, so much for saving time and money. I will still try to get the pics on for what it's worth.
Thanks
Last edited by toyotawise; 03-20-2011 at 04:21 PM.
If you would of removed the airbox and the piping, you would of had enough room to get to the bolt on the bottom (although even then its still a tad tight). My guess is after all that messing around, you could of retarded your timing . As far as lining up the dizzy, you probably noticed that the coupling is shaped weird (flat on one side), so it only should go in one way. But since its at the shop.................
When you get it back, use a paint pen (or make a mark somewhere) on that adjustment bolt so you know where your 10deg mark is (which is stock).
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Yes, Toyota distributors are a pain to reach!
And yes, as you know by now, you did throw off the engine's timing.
In a nutshell, you'd have to reset the engine at TDC (top dead center) on the No.1 piston, re-align the rotor, and use a timing gun to set the engine timing accurately. There should be resources online or even at your local library (remember those?!) like Haynes or Chilton's that will walk you through it. Good luck, let us know how this turns out.
Well I just spent almost 40 mins talking to a 20+ year out of work mechanic who saw an ad I put on C.L. and the good sam that he was he called to give me some pointers, what I discovered is that the distributor was not completely seated in the engine, luckily I didn't screw up the distributor or the engine. Had I kept cranking it probably would have gone to hell. Anyhow he tells me that because this is not an adjustable distributor I don't need a timing light, I do however need a compression gauge to bring it up to TDC. So now everything is back in place, my question is what if I try to start it now, will it run? Could it be that I didn't throw off the timing after all and it was just because the distributor was half in not seated, couldn't I just start it and find out?
Thanks
Looks like I got my answer I just spoke with the Mechanic and he said I must do the timing since I didn't set it when I cranked it, so now I need a compression gauge and I should be able to do it.
Thanks for the help.
Yes, Toyota distributors are a pain to reach!
And yes, as you know by now, you did throw off the engine's timing.
In a nutshell, you'd have to reset the engine at TDC (top dead center) on the No.1 piston, re-align the rotor, and use a timing gun to set the engine timing accurately. There should be resources online or even at your local library (remember those?!) like Haynes or Chilton's that will walk you through it. Good luck, let us know how this turns out.
Actually I did check the Library for the Haynes manual or Chilton's when I first got the car a few months back and they didn't have the year and model so I bought a Haynes' from Rock Auto for half it would cost at Advanced. I did look at the timing section in the manual but it just didn't add up, some things are different in there.
Thanks
Last edited by toyotawise; 03-23-2011 at 10:56 PM.
You could try to align the v notch in the crank pulley with 0, and make sure that the cam pulley "u" notch lines up. Although a slight pain in the ass, its how you set for TDC when you do a timing belt job.....or (taken from somewhere else)"Alternative method: This is another way to check if the #1 cylinder is at TDC at the end of the exhaust stage. This step may require 2 people to do. Remove the #1 spark plug, put your thumb over the spark plug hole to seal it and turn the crankshaft until you feel the air push out. This means you're in compression. You need one more revolution to be at the beginning of the cycle (ie. at the beginning of the intake stage and end of the exhaust stage). Use a long object like a straight coat hanger and put it through the spark plug hole lighly resting on the piston inside. As you turn the pulley on its final revolution, the coat hanger should rise to the highest position. Adjust going back and forth on the crankshaft pulley per unit degree until you reach maximum height."
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Doesn't matter, but I'd probably leave it off.
I wouldn't stick a coat hanger in there - you don't want to risk scratching the finely cylinder walls or piston tops.
Otherwise, follow what he said and your rotor should be pointing at the No.1 cylinder post on your cap.
The Haynes didn't make sense??? Odd. they usually walk you thru the steps.
Rather than start a new thread I figure this question is related. I placed an ad on Craigslist looking for someone to fix the problem with the retarded timing, I also need to have the valve gasket and tube seals replaced. I have been getting various calls, one was from a kid who assured me it would fix the timing for 75 bucks, then I got a call from a guy named Jason who tells me he has 9 years experience and has taken apart and put together his Trans Am, has changed tranny all by himself with the tranny sitting on his chest. So I talk to my wife and we agree it "seems" he has the experience. He agrees to do both jobs for $200. He shows up the next morning in a late model van with an elderly couple, I assume are his parents and he's under 18. I later learn that they are a Christian couple who are helping him and wife and kids out and he's 28, I'm in my late 40's so to me that doesn't seem old enough to have the proper experience, anyhow he says to me "my bad" in reference to the the ride he needed, we get a ride from them and they drive us to Advance where we buy the gasket and seals and some sealant, some oil, filter and lucas oil treatment.
We head back, he doesn't have any tools with him and he is going to replace the gasket and seals only to figure out I don't have the correct socket to take off the nuts holding the tubes and valve cover. So he proceeds to take out the distributor checks it and I ask him about over torquing the bolt and the distributor going out of alignment, of course now I know that's because I didn't have it fully seated properly. Well get this, he doesn't say anything about it not being seated properly and says "It's supposed to be that way" The reason it wasn't seated properly before is because I didn't put enough pressure to get past the 0 ring. If he proceeded and did the same thing I did and not seat it properly he could really have screwed things up big time! Anyhow there is not much he can do so he goes ahead and changes the oil and filter with nothing but a scissor and cylinder jack holding the car, at one point when he was turning the pan bolt, the cylinder jack seemed to move, he was lucky it didn't fall on him. At some point he asked me if I smoked and it wasn't cigs, so I figured Pot Head but I gave him the benefit of the doubt.
So he gets done, at some point he tells me he will give me a break and only charge me $150 for the whole deal. So I say ok. So we agree to walk to the nearest ATM but he finds out the couple in the Van aren't far away, so they pick us up on the way there we pass by a hot looking blonde and he has the nerve to point her out discreetly of course without the couple noticing. I'm thinking this guys married and being helped by Christians and this is how he behaves, well that was just the tip of the iceberg! So we go to the gas station ATM, he comes with me and while I"m getting the money he says, Tell you what I know things are tight or something like that, I'll do it for $125, just give me a hundred now, "see I'm a nice guy" So I figure he'll be back tomorrow and he needs the money so why not, so I give it to him and that's the last I have seen of him since Monday. On Tues. he was supposed to be here at 11 am, we shook on it, but that doesn't seem to mean anything to him. I called him and he tells me "sorry I didn't call I'm still in Lakeland, and I"m loading up the machine as we speak" The machine meaning a 200 LB. timing diagnostics machine he was going to borrow from a buddy of his. I just tell him please communicate with me and he say's "yes sir" and he agrees to be here by 2 PM. 2 O'clock and he's not here, I call and text him no response finally later in the afternoon I get a text from him saying something about his truck's thermostat not working, and another text saying will contact you.
Next day I text him asking for a update no response I call and leave messages nothing. I call yesterday and his wife says it's her phone I'm calling the same one he with him and he's not there and she will give him a message when she sees him. He left me hanging took my money and has flaked no me. It' s not much of crime, it would be a small claim at best and I"m not going to do that. I would contact that Christian couple and tell them what he did, but don't have a way to contact them. At this point I'm close to getting the car working and don't need his help, he also removed the accelerator cable to get to the valve cover and I had a hell of a time getting that back on. Anyhow I just want part of my money that this thief has stollen and odds are that's not going to happen, so I ask the question given my trusting this guy and if you did the same and he did the same to you, What Would You do to get your money back or to teach him a lesson? I will never again let anyone from Craigslist touch my car, I only did this because I have had a positive experience with my van with an experienced mechanic, but not everyone on there is trust worthy even so-called Christian types. Sorry for the book, but I had to tell my story.
Thanks
Last edited by toyotawise; 03-24-2011 at 04:46 PM.
Ok, you're out $100 bucks and lesson learned. I was cringing with one eye closed as I was reading this saga.
Get the car running and worry about him later, if at all.
I'm not that familiar with the 5SFE engine in the 1997 Celica. I was surprised to learn that the distributor is non-adjustable for 1996 and up. My cars are all 3SGE or 3SGTE powered and you can adjust the timing with the dizzy. I'd rather direct you to those who know more about your Celica than me; I don't want to give you incorrect technical advice.
You've got to get yourself onto some dedicated Gen6 Celica forums.
There are some good people here, but it can be hit and miss when all gens are lumped into one big category.
Good News! Up and running did everything you guys and the manual said to do and started right up and running like a swiss clock, well not that fine, more like a top, but better than before, thanks for all the help and suggestions.
Last edited by toyotawise; 03-24-2011 at 06:36 PM.
Wow, sorry you got ripped off like that. Anyhow, the sites he suggested are both great sites. Im on both as well. CelicaTech seems more geared for 5th gens, where as 6GC is all 6th gen! Feel free to hit me up on one or the other site (same SN).
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97 Celica GT Please Help
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