Is there any way to do it without removing the crank pulley? the engine is off the car and the belt is off the engine <long story> so i'm not even sure if i can just put the engine in the car and use the cranking method. But if there's a way to avoid taking out the pulley, why not!

 

no. you need the pulley off to get the marks lined up on the crank; and also just so you can get the belt on there!

 

is it possible to crank the engine without the timing belt without harming the engine?

 

Yes, The 1MZ is a Non-Interference engine. You wont hurt it.

 

why do you want to crank it without the belt on? what's going on here?

 

The engine doesn't have a timing belt < long story> and by the way, it's a 3VZ-FE not 1Mz, 92 es300. I'm thinking it might be easier to install the timing belt while the engine is out of the car. and i might not have a choice anyway. I still have to align the cams and the crank too, so i gotta check out the manual unless somebody got an easier safe way. thnnx for your help guys.

 

Oops, sorry didnt know the year. 3VZ is non-interference as well

 

He wants to crank it because he doesn't have a strong enough impact wrench to take out the pulley, so he cranks it with a wrench holding in place onto the ground, which is dangerous but that's what I did and it worked. Oh yea and this is when you're gonna start breakin tools, so use craftman tools.

 

i just use a impact socket with the breaker bar on the gournd. the trick is to know which direciton the crank will move when cranked that's all

 

ok, now i see. well. yes it's easier with the engine out, but not much really, pretty easy t belt job overall.
i've also done the bar against the ground trick to get the crank bolt out.
the engine spins clockwise, so you'll want the bar pointed at 4 o clock into the ground when you hit the starter.

 

Hey, I got a suggestion I understand its hard to remove the bolt but its better to be safe than sorry. Go to a tool loaner place and borrow a impact wrench that is at least 600ft/lbs it is strong enough to get any bolt off smaller than 30mm. I hope you got some mad air to go with it too because its an air hog.

Borrowing the correct tool for the job is much easier that using the wrong tool and breaking something (usually a body part) or worse damaging your vehicle in the process which will only lead to more dead presidents to fix.

 

really, clockwise? from the front, my mazda v6 [KL-DE 2.5 liter] was couterclockwise [same engine/trans layout precisely]. ill have to see this .


using the starter to break the bolt loose is not only safe and easy, its VERY fast. you literally usually just have to blip the starter.
it's also necessary to do if you dont have very good pneumatic tools. why are you afraid?

 

i'm almost postivie all toyota engine spin clockwise.

 

mazda was too -- i was mistaken. oopsie

so you put breaker bar on the ground somewhere between 6 and 3 o'clock [depending on how long it is, naturally]

 

Hey there is nothing wrong with doing that. Havent broke anything yet. And if you use that 600 ft/lbs gun to hammer the bolt back on and come back to it in another 60 or 90K for the next go-round youll have no choice but to use that method.