I've got a 99 LX with the D16Y7. I'm in the midst of doing the timing belt and being as careful as I possibly can, but I'm running into an idiotic problem.

The service manual says the sequence for putting the timing belt on is crank>tensioner>water pump>cam gear

The problem I'm having is that I can set the crank correctly, mark on the gear to the arrow on the block, and set the cam correctly. I can put the belt on and maintain time without a problem. The issue comes when I try and tension the belt. It seems essentially impossible to tension the belt without the crank moving out of time.

How on earth is this possible to maintain time when the tensioner essentially turns the crank counter clockwise/cam clockwise when it tensions?


(Am I overthinking this?)

 

Maybe try to set the cam and crank one notch ahead of when the belt tensions.. I did this a long time ago and can't remember what I did exactly .. It wasn't easy.. LOL..

 

I didn't have this issue when i did my timing belt.


Belt is on, your roating cranck CC, but the cam is spining clockwise? How is that possible?

 

He meant when he trust to tighten the tensioner the crank moves opposite way of the cam before the tensioner can be tightend. Never had this problem either

 

Try holding the cam gear while you turn the crank pulley.

I saw ericthecarguy do it. lol

 

the correct way would be get everything timed (crank,cam). Put the belt on, Put a little pressure on the tensioner wile at the same time rolling the engine forward counter clockwise (slightly)! then set the tensioner nut and check the tension. the belt should twist 1/4 turn. hope this helps

 

Well, it took a couple beers and a lot of yelling, but I somehow managed to get it tight, properly timed and everything locked down.

I have absolutely no idea exactly how I did it, either.

 

I did the same thing. 4 coors, yelled at it. Called it some bad names, and it played nicely.


hopefully it does the same for the front main.

 

It's got 180k on it, hopefully the car falls apart before I ever have to look at anything other than oil filters and drain plugs.

 

im glad it worked for you