leboyd1

Ok, i'm ready to go back to the 98 timing belt.

Since it is the interference engine, I thought I would double/triple check the alignment on my 98.

So, we put the belt on at the crank, lining up the "CR" with the mark on the crank. We then adjusted the LH cam to line the mark on it with the belt. We turned it counterclockwise like the manual says to make sure that side of the belt was tight. Next we adjusted the RH cam to line the mark on it with the belt and slipped it on. Finally, we put the belt tensioner back.

To double/triple check, we thought "Hey, let's spin the whole crank a few times to make sure it's still inline." After 4 full turns, the cam lines are off by 1 tooth. After 4 more turns, the cam lines are off by 2 teeth.

It has become obvious that the because of the number of teeth on the crank verses the number of teeth on the cam, it may take 30 full turns or something like that to get it back "in line".

Does this sound correct, or are we just missing something completely obvious to others?

TIA

cation

Do you have the factory service manual?

leboyd1

I have access to it with an online service.

It's directions are as I explained in the original post. Except after putting the belt on, it says to turn the crank 2 revolutions (not two full turns of the belt) and check that they are still aligned (which they were).

However, as I said, I wanted to double/triple check by turning the timing belt through one cycle of the engine (4 or 8 turns - wasn't sure which). It seemed this bring everything back into alignment. But they were not aligned.

One thought (and I'm not nearly an expert on this at all) I had was in regards to the cams. Do they actually turn the full turns or might they not turn full turns because of no ECM to instruct them or something like that - that's assuming that they're off because I turned it so many times.

It's no problem to break it all down again and put it back together, and only turn the crank twice. But this would mean my thought on the cams might actually be correct (and that would shock me).

TIA.

cation

Two turns of the crank is "one cycle" of the engine.

I haven't done a timing belt install on the 1UZ-FE yet, but on other timing belt installs that I've done you pay attention to the timing mark relations of the crank and cam pulleys/gears vs. the marks on the block and heads, not the timing belt marks. If your crank pulley timing mark is aligned with the timing mark on the block while the no. 1 cyl is at TDC and your cam gear timing marks match up with the marks on the heads, I would say that you are ok.

AzHotLS

iTrader: (1)

Have you seen the tutorials over at lextreme? Step 39 of the first one may help. The second one has good pics.

http://www.lextreme.com/tech_maintenance.html

nthach

The 1998-on 1UZ is a VVT-i engine, and Toyota says to rotate the crank 50 degrees counterclockwise or clockwise after aligning the timing marks or something like that - check the TSRM.

leboyd1

Yep, that 50d clockwise points the crank to the #2 idler puller.

I stopped by my lexus mechanic's shop (he's one of my clients so he helps me out) and asked him about it. He said that the belt will line up, but the cams will not except maybe every 1,000 (hyperbole) full turns. If the belt lines ups, he said everything should be okay.

I'll go for it tonight.