ok so my timing belt is off by one tooth? can i live with that or should i fix it? i'll be honest im pretty lazy and if its ok then im gana leave it. but otherwise ill fix it. what are potential problems? the intake cam is one tooth to the right (clockwise). please help i need to know if its ok.

 

help

 

fix that ****. easy peasy.

 

First, are you 100% certain it's off? Many people make this mistake because of the way the markings line up, when in fact the timing is fine. If it is indeed off, you should definitely fix it.

 

how many degrees is it off? if its within spec of advancing/retardation you should be fine

 

It must not be off, because of its off then it would be running like complete crap and you'd be crying like a baby, "Whats wrong with my car?"

 

well how can i tell if its really off then. it looked to me to be a tooth off. but if you all say it could be fine how am i sure?

i started it and it seemed fine. it made some funny noises but it hadnt been started for a month. so idk, i doubt if that had anything to do with it.

 

If its off, then it has trouble idling properly, the throttle response will suck and you'll have no power.

 

so i guess the only way to be really sure is to drive it???

what about a timing light? will that show a considerable difference?

 

The way to be "really sure" is to look at all the marks and make sure they're correct.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Padawan &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The way to be "really sure" is to look at all the marks and make sure they're correct. </TD></TR></TABLE>

i did that and my intake cam looked to be off one tooth and to the right.
but some are saying that it might not be off at all and it could just appear that way.

i know i put it one right. but when turning the crank i had my cousin make sure it didnt slip or anything. and everthing was fine. but when we finally look at it after the belt was tightned. it looked off

 

i searched and everything to make sure i did it right. and it was a pain to get it on. esp being my first time with a timing belt. i really dont want to have to go throught all of that again.

 

Make sure the crank pulley is <u>exactly</u> lined up with the TDC mark, then post a photo of the cam sprockets. It should be pretty easy to tell if it's timed correctly.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Padawan &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Make sure the crank pulley is <u>exactly</u> lined up with the TDC mark, then post a photo of the cam sprockets. It should be pretty easy to tell if it's timed correctly. </TD></TR></TABLE>

ok. ill do that later on today. im about to go to school in like ten minutes.
ill be back around 5. its almost 11. so yeah ill do that then and you can all tell me if its off

 

To tell if you are really on or pretty dam close....

Take the spark plug out of cylinder 1 and place a long screwdriver or long socket extension in it.

Go around til your cams are lined up together using the markings and at the same time watching the screw driver or extension move upwards to top dead center.

Your timing marks on the cams should line up when ur screw driver reaches the top...

I find this more reliable then the dam mark on the pulley or oil pump/cover...

Plus if you head has been milled before...it throws the marks off slightly

 

My car is off 1 or 2 teeths and its running like crap. I'm still adjusting it to make it safe and perfect. Don't want to buy a new motor or parts for a free replacement.

 

ok so i set it back to TDC and heres the pics. is this too far off???

 

Well, it does indeed look off. However, it looks to me as if your exhaust cam is the one that needs to be advanced one tooth.

 

indeed the exhaust cam appears to be off a tooth. Put your rear timing cover back on....not that its really needed to notice that its a tooth off, but its important to have it on there and it has the timing mark on it.

 

if only one cam gear is off by a tooth it will still run fine for the mostpartmm at least not super noticable. As in it might miss a bit but will still be comletely drivable. if both are off then that's a different story.

 

See the little marks I have circled. Use thoses to line everything up. I would agree with the above that the exhaust is off. Use the hole in the came to keep the intake where it is, and re-set the exhaust. But really check the marks I circled. I had a hard time getting my timing correct untill I pulled my head out and used the marks.

 

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Could you stick someting in those holes to keep it from turning?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Import_spoon &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Could you stick someting in those holes to keep it from turning?</TD></TR></TABLE>
thats what im guessing.

 

Those holes are made to put some thing in to lock the cams. So when you put the timing belt on all you have to worry about lining up is the crank pulley.

 

Yes, but good luck with that, I never bought the speciality tool, but punches and screwdrivers dont work. Just put a big wrench on the cam bolts (2 of them) and get a buddy to hold them while you slide the belt on.