[Blue Gypsy]

Hey there! Changed water pump and timing belt on my 98 Camry with the 5SFE with 205k miles because the timing belt broke, now the crankshaft won't turn with a breaker bar and the spark plugs out. It was overdue for an oil change, any idea why this is? It rotates about 15 degrees in both directions but hits something and won't turn further to align to tdc.

Thanks

 

[borwish]

http://www.harborfreight.com/12-in-drive-extendable-ratchet-62311.html

They will have "hard" spots and then give so you can bust your knuckle or over shoot the mark.

 

[Blue Gypsy]

Hard spots

I got one of these ratchets. So you're saying just force it past the hard spot and it will turn?

 

[dc_98_cam]

Suggest that you add a little motor oil through each spark plug hole.

 

[mcgowaw]

i just wanted to thank you guys for the info to the op so far. i assumed with the plugs removed, it'd be ez to rotate the crank. keeping this filed away for when i gotta try mine...
tony

 

[Stillrunning]

They will have "hard" spots and then give so you can bust your knuckle or over shoot the mark.

Can you explain why that "hard spot", when the plugs are removed?

 

[Stillrunning]

So you're saying just force it past the hard spot and it will turn?

Not so fast. To be safe I'd remove timing belt and try to turn the crank. Usually the "hard" spot is compression, but with plugs out there should be no significant resistance. There is some added resistance as the cam lobes approach maximum lift. Also inspect camshaft.

 

[borwish]

Can you explain why that "hard spot", when the plugs are removed?

You just did. But of course with a long enough breaker bar or ratchet it shouldn't be too bad. He said that he put a new belt on because the old one broke---so he would have to turn each one individually to set timing. I assumed that the combined resistance is giving him trouble, but if that ratchet won't turn the engine I'd suspect something is wrong.

 

[Stillrunning]

You just did.

Not really to resisting a breaker bar. For each cam lobe pressing a valve there's another coming off a valve. A bigger breaker bar is not the answer - especially when the gear turning the cam sprockets is smaller by 2:1 revolutions.

I just think some caution here is called for - not more force.

 

[Stillrunning]

now the crankshaft won't turn with a breaker bar and the spark plugs out.

Another thought - is it in neutral?

 

[Kingdom934]

Another thought - is it in neutral?

This shouldn't be an issue for an automatic unless it's an manual, right? Then I can see why it isn't turning.

When turning the crank or camshaft manually, I can do it with a 24" 1/2 inch drive socket hinge handle. No way able to do it with 6" or maybe a 12" one. Taking spark plugs out will make it easier, but there will still be that tough easy tough easy part though.

 

[borwish]

Did you ever get the engine to turn?