BY5260

I posted earlier about replacing my timing belt and I water pump on 05 Lexus ES330. I'm getting ready to put it all back together but I have a huge worry.

When I started the removed process, I made the mistake of removing the tensioner and timing belt before breaking the camshaft nuts loose. As I tried to loosen the belt there was some rotation in the camshafts while I tried to loosen them. I ended up putting the old tensioner in a vice and then reinstalling it. I then got the bolts loose and removed them.

I'm now worried about damage from this movement. The belt had been previously replaced by a mechanic a couple of years ago. He'd marked the camshaft pulley and the engine with red paint. The markings are at about the 2:00 point. The pulleys are no longer at that point due to movement while trying to remove those bolts.

To reassemble, do I just replace the pulleys (with notch in proper spot) and then rotate the pulley back to those previously marked spots?

I don't want to damage the engine by colliding the piston and valve. Any help and advice is really appreciated. Is there any quick/easy way to verify that's not already happened?

LeX2K

There should be marks on your new timing belt what brand do you have? As for the movement of the camshaft(s) nothing to worry about here you didn't damage anything.

ES300NZ

just line the notches on the cam wheel up with the backing plate timing mark. some movement is to be expected.

-don't trust someone elses marks, they might have got it wrong, verify for yourself.

the engine is a non-interference engine, so valves don't go below TDC anyway.

BY5260

Thanks for taking the time to comment. Yes, there are marks on the timing belt. I bought it as a kit and the belt is a Mitsubishi.

BY5260

Thank you for your comments. That's the best news I've heard. I'd previously been told it is an interference engine. I'll google and find video instructing me to line-up the timing instead of using the old marks.

ES300NZ

re-the timing marks, and backing plate.

this image sums cam wheel timing.



this image sums up the crank timing.



the attached file is the factory manual.