Governor

I got my new timing belt on with all marks lined up..this belt was a very very tight fit...my questions are..
1st...it does not look like I am even going to get close to where the manual says the tensionor is supposed to be(80 to 90degrees) I got mine about 2 oclock and it is really tight.
2nd..after tightening the tensioner the manual said to rotate the crankshaft
a full turn to set the belt..after doing this and lining the crankshaft allignment mark back up nothing else lines up????? the camshaft marks are not even close..did I screw up or what?

Greeny

iTrader: (43)

That don't sound good mang..{hearing valves bending}...

Got a pic of it??

Governor

I know this was all lined up and nothing slipped so maybe you have to turn the crankshaft a couple of revalutions before things all line back up again???

c29842984

Well any four stroke engine has the camshafts turn once for every two turns of the crankshaft so all four strokes can be completed. You also better be sure the marks were all lined up with cylinder #1 at top dead center. I don't have any advice on the tensioner without seeing it first.

Governor

Problem solved...Quick check of service manual..it say u have to rotate crankshaft at least twice for pulley marks to all line up again boom..I went around one more time and damn if they didnt line up correct... the tensioner problem was that it was not rotated far enough clockwise before I installed the belt I took the belt and tensioner back off rotated the tensioner reintalled belt with timing marks lined up and all is well ...getting late here so I will rap it up tomorrow hopefully.

JstAntrRoky

How long did it take you to get it pulled apart and belt changed to the point you are now? Did you replace the oil seals on the crank and cams?

Greeny

iTrader: (43)

Yup Sorry i got busy elsewhere..

Governor

Started 9:30am this morning. Actually stopped at 8:30pm but went back out at 10:00 to reinstall belt and tensionor so I could sleep tonight.

I have replaced the following:

water pump
thermistat
both camshaft seals
crankshaft seal
tensioner
timing belt

I had a couple problems and two trips to tool store to get pullers and another crankshaft seal( I flipped seal bacwards and ruined one). This car has 256k on original motor and tranny..timing belt was last replaced at 80k..everything was tight and a pita to get off plus all day laying on my back.We had two thunderstorms move through so I figure I have about 9 hours in it so far and I am not done yet. I have to put timing belt covers,radiator hoses, all the drive belts and covers back on then cross my fingers and crank it up! I will let you know how it ends up...

Anyone who can do all this in 4 hours like I have read must have had no problems what so ever!

Black92GXE

iTrader: (3)

that and probably have done it a few times

Governor

Well after firing up the old max all was well accept for a massive oil leak comeing from crankshaft.....and I just replaced it...3 hours later I had timing belt off again new crankshaft seal in and all put back together...no leak! I must have flipped the seal or something..anyways this proves you can do a timing belt job in 4 hours because it only took me 3 hours but everythjing was loose and fresh in my mind.....

Bill Doran

How did old belt look before you changed it. Did you actually have about 160k on the belt you changed? I got 69,000 miles on present one and would like to put off a little longer. Please don't anyone slam me for taking chance, I hope to get another car in the fall. Thanks.

Hectic

iTrader: (20)

i read a few days ago someone saying they had 180,000 miles on their timing belt. i had about 129,000 on an original timing belt in my 93 escort before it snapped. it's a non interference motor, installed a new one and started it back up you could probably get through the summer, but then you would be selling a car that needs the timing belt replaced asap.

GRNMAXDMON

iTrader: (1)

it took me exactly 4 hours to do everything on a customers car by my house. and i left it runnin' for him before i left his house and i charged him $350 for the job.

replaced:
timing belt and tensioner
front main seal
cam seals
drive belts
water pump
thermostat
and cleaned his engine since he had a massive oil leak in the front of his engine due to cracked seals.

GRNMAXDMON

iTrader: (1)

i replaced mine at 254,xxx miles in my '93 while the motor was out and then swapped it into my '89 SE.

Maxima Man

I am going to have to drive down to florida to get you to change my belt !!!

I am so lazy I keep putting it off even though if it snaps I am out a nice 89 maxima>>>> I am probably going to end up taking to the dealer and have them change it. ( I could walk through the whole proccess in my sleep but I am not confident enough to do it by myself!!)

GRNMAXDMON

iTrader: (1)

its easy once u have everything off. i did it myself on my own car and of course ran through everything to make sure everything was in place and to spec. FSM is ur best friend.

Governor

Car has 256k belt was last changed at 80k..mostly highway miles...belt looked like a dry lakebead but seemed solid..one tooth was broke but still there. Take a chance but if it breaks the engine is toast...at least two valves anyway.

Governor

Like I said..the second time only took me 3 hours but all was fresh in my mind and loose...if u did these often they are a peace of cake.

GRNMAXDMON

iTrader: (1)

oh of course.

maxitech

iTrader: (7)

...still, it is a job I hope I never have to repeat.

Governor

When I seen that oil pooring out I could have cried!!! But rather than mope about it I just started taking everything back off and fixed it right away..the next day I was glad I did and it was done. Now that I know how to do this and have all the correct tools I know I could consistantly do it in 4 hours
like GRNMAXDMON said.

GRNMAXDMON

iTrader: (1)

i just love it when things r fixed by urself instead of paying someone else to do it for u knowin' that u need that money for something else.

smittyjr

This forum is great… How is everyone? I pulled my transmission yesterday and decided to change my timing belt today. My car has 212359 miles on the original belt. I can’t say that for the transmission this will be the second change.

The timing belt took me about 4 hours to complete. The sad thing is I have the belt facing the wrong way. The Arrow is facing the engine. I have a subscription with Alldata online and the manual reads (CAUTION: The timing belt is directional. Be sure to install the belt with the "arrow" facing the front of the engine.) So like a dummy I face it toward the engine well it did say face it to the front of the engine.

So I found my Haynes in the house after 24 went off and it said to have the arrow pointing away from engine. It’s going to be a long day tomorrow. I hope it only take a couple of hours. One more thing my belt did not look bad but my tensioner did not rotate.

internetautomar

iTrader: (30)

I'm hoping you are replacing the tensioner too now

smittyjr

Yep,
Tensioner
Water Pump
Thermostat
Engine Mounts
Transmission

GRNMAXDMON

iTrader: (1)

i hope u did change ur timin' belt and did not reinstall the same one since u said that it didn't look bad???

smittyjr

I did. It only takes one time for me to be with stupid.

GRNMAXDMON

iTrader: (1)

good, glad to hear ur not.