Timing belt tips... just finished mine

[BobES300]

I did this on a '96 ES, 1MZ-FE I believe:

Well, some quick comments for you guys while they're on my mind. I have some pics and will go into more detail later:

1) I used a cutoff wheel on the back off the timing belt cover so I could get the
water pump off. That eliminates having to take the cam pulleys off.

2) I was able to get the crank bolt off with my 1/2" impact gun. I have a 6HP, 60 gallon tank. I wasted about an hour trying to get it off until I realized that I had the pressure turned down at the regulator - stupid !!

3) No need to take off the crank gear unless your replacing the crank seal


4) I used a harmonic balancer to remove the crank pulley and it came right off. It's only about $20 for the set

5) I used a chain wrench to hold the crank pulley in place when I torqued it back on. This is much easier than removing the starter or access plate to the flywheel.

6) This is the second time I've gotten screwed by the TB marks (on the belt itself). I spent hours trying to get the cams and crank in the right spot AND put the new belt on so the marks line up. I finally used another person to hold the back cam and a wrench held in place with a wood clamp on the front cam. Then I took the tensioner (the one between the two cams) and pressed down on the belt and bolted it in. According to every manual, the rear cam should be the last thing you put the belt on... I'm stumped.

7) I then rotated the engine a few times to try and check my marks but wasn't able to get them where they're supposed to be. I was absolutely positive that the cam and crank were in the right position when I put the belt on that I decided to start the engine (nothing put back together yet) and it sounded fine. I figured it would either run rough or I would get a CEL if I was way off. I've driven it about ten miles now and it's running great. I have to figure if there was a problem it would have shown itself my now... again stumped on why I couldn't get things to line up according to the book.

8) Wierd coolant noise in the dash which I think might be an airlock. I'm gonna post that in a minute.


Bob