python

iTrader: (4)

check the camshaft sensor connectors

adrenelin5

I will once I find where they are.

Here are some pics of the timing belt. Two from directly above to show that the belt is in the right position and the next 2 are face on to the cam to show that there are no mars on either cam. I watched both cams as I turned over the engine and couldn't see anything all the way around. besides the paint/marker type lines are there any other things to look for?

LScowboyLS

I will send you the pages of the factory repair manual for aligning the marks on a 96, the procedure and location of the cam pulley marks is identical on your 94, all LS400's have the 1UZ engine, so the timing belt job is essentially identical in all of them.

Not sure you can see the marks with just the very top most covers off only

LScowboyLS

here ya go

adrenelin5

Since the last post I have found the timing marks on the cam's. One was dirty and the other rubbed off.

How is it when I have the timing belt marks at 2 o'Clock and 10... or 1 and 11 which ever you prefer the cam marks are nowhere in sight on either side?

I can though however line up the cam marks with the marks on the engine simotaniously. But then the belt marks are nowhere in sight.

adrenelin5

When lining the cam marks up DTC on the crank is off by about 30 degrees. Looks like i'll have some more work to do . Thanks to LSCOWBOYLS for the PDF files. They'll come in very handy.

LScowboyLS

neither your cams nor crank are off by 30 degrees, or the car would have never run

I am really doubting whether the timing belt is off at all

the valve timing doesn't change unless the timing belt breaks or loses teeth, and I do not get the impression from your pics that either has happened, didn't you say it was running OK earlier this year before the intermittent starting issues?

RA40

iTrader: (6)

Reminds m of a similar scenario I had with the 5M-GE motor in the Cressida. It had driven well but gradually the car began running rough and weak. I did a tune and it didn't change anything, I did notice the timing was off the scale so around +20 some odd. The distributor couldn't be rotated enough to get 8 degrees.

Everything else checked out fine except the timing was way off. I pulled the distributor and advanced it to the spot it should be. It ran better but the nagging thought something caused it had to be found. It was beyond me so the car was dropped off at the mechanic to check. An hour or so later the mechanic called. The crankshaft key slot had sheared so the sprocket shifted that 12 degrees. The bad news, I'd need a new crankshaft. One of the senior techs figured a workaround and charged $200 to fix it. I don't know exactly what he did but it held and it saved me the $ of an engine rebuild.

adrenelin5

This is what I can't wrap my head around. Sorry but I wrote LCAM mark where the RCAM mark is and vice versa.

python

iTrader: (4)

belt marks? just line up all the marks on the engine. btw the left side is the drivers side

adrenelin5

Sorry, I do know that the LCAM mark should be on the driver.

LScowboyLS

you can get a 2-3 day unlimited pass to the Toyota factory hub called Toyota Information System for only $15 - then you can download as much of the real factory service manual as you want to. - while you are there, you can reprint your original window sticker, access all of the technical service bulletins and do many other things, all within the same $15 membership!

you can also just purchase the full 2 volume factory repair manual on ebay - they look like this - if you are patient, you can eventually pick one up on ebay for $60 or so

if you are going to do your timing belt, go ahead and buy the full kit of the real Toyota parts in the form of the kit that Aisin has put together for your car called model TKT-030 - should be about $200 on ebay, a lot less that $600 at the dealership for the same parts!

python

iTrader: (4)

so im seeing electrical issues to battery terminal posts to timing belt..this thread is all over the place with no direction. my advice is simply have someone who knows cars help you or take it to a shop, this car and the type of diag it takes to figure it out is simply above ur knowledge.

LScowboyLS

awwww, that's not the do-it-yourself spirit this country was built on! - we need more guys to MAN UP like this guy!

anyone who can do a starter successfully on an LS400 is ready to tackle anything, if they don't mind doing some research first, read the manual, ask questions, and think it through!

adrenelin5

HERE,HERE!!! LOL.

Anyhow, I did the check for TDC and it checks out. So basically when the crank is a TDC the timing marks on the cam are at about 6 O' Clock on the cam on the left and 2 O' Clock on the right cam. How could both cams be off by exactially the same amount. Because as we know I am able to line both cams up properly but unfortunetly then the TDC is not lined up. In addition how would the car even run with the cams being off to that degree.