So today I was supposed to wrap up my car but no. I set all the marks and wrap the belt around the crank, water pump, idler, cam gears and finally tensioner. Slide tensioner up while friend applies 20ft lbs. Torque down the bolts and pin comes out easy. I start to crank the motor with a wrench and I start to see that the belt is starting to come off the idler, then cam gears and then the water pump. So I'm like WTF...I redo this procedure 4 times trying to tweak the timing belt aligned with all the pullies, but each time the belt wants to slide off. I try to push the belt as far back on the cam gears so it can align with the pullies but no go.

The idler pulley has only one bolt and no spacer between that and the block?

Because one of the AutoHobby shop tech said that it needs to come out (moved to the left, while facing engine) more to align with the cam gears. I think the idler is aligned with the tensioner though.
When I look at the belt on the idler head on it looks like its a little canted, but the bolt is torqued on right.

Please help me out...my car has been there for over a week and I need to get it back up. THanks


Alvin

http://www.cardomain.com/id/96rst

How far is the belt coming off? If it moves some then it's normal. If it wants to come completely off then there must be a bad bearing on the idler pulley or the tensioner pulley. Make sure all of your gears and pulleys are bolted on tight and the bearings are good, check to make sure the lower crank gear is not walking off the crank. All the gears should be flush with eachother when you look down at them from the top. There is no spacer btw. Also make sure you are turning the crank clockwise direction.

Originally posted by 97xtc
How far is the belt coming off? If it moves some then it's normal. If it wants to come completely off then there must be a bad bearing on the idler pulley or the tensioner pulley. Make sure all of your gears and pulleys are bolted on tight and the bearings are good, check to make sure the lower crank gear is not walking off the crank. All the gears should be flush with eachother when you look down at them from the top. There is no spacer btw. Also make sure you are turning the crank clockwise direction.

After about 1 revoultion the belt is about 1/8th off the idler pulley and the cam gear, in opposite directions. I think the bearings are good cuz they rotate smoothly. It's not walking off the crank cuz you have to really 'place' the belt onto the pulley. The idler and tensioner seemed aligned with the inner edge (side closest to engine) of the cam gear and NOT the outer edge. Am I missing something here?....it's got me stumped

Could it be the idler or tensioner pulley??..I heard when the bearing goes bad it tilts..but I'm wondering how does a bad bearing make the pulley tilt?
Alvin

http://www.cardomain.com/id/96rst

Bet your cam gears are on backwards.

Aww..sheezy....which way is right?..Also does it matter which is the intake and which is the exhaust? Thanks


Alvin

http://www.cardomain.com/id/96rst

Originally posted by Semperboost
Aww..sheezy....which way is right?..Also does it matter which is the intake and which is the exhaust? Thanks Alvin http://www.cardomain.com/id/96rst

The side that says "2.0L FRONT" should be facing you.

While you're at it, make sure your crank pulley is seated all the way towards the block.
--------------------------------------
know me as santiago
boosted 420a and ej2o..(my 2liter v8 eaters)

yep, I did the same thing too. put the cam gears on backwards. but I caught it before I ever put the belt on, I knew something just didn't look right.

Well I'm pretty sure I saw the lettering saying "2.0 FRONT UP" on the gears facing me, but can it also on the other side. Yall don't thinkg it's the idler or tensior pulley? I guess on Weds. I'll re-install the gears then check it again. Anyone with a pic of the front and back of the cam gears? Thanks

ALvin

AS you said, the front of the gears should say 2.0 front. When installed, that should be facing outward. The spokes on the gears should look inset.

damnit bro i wish you were at the shops on pendleton :( we would have had that bitch back up with the quickness

im betting your gears are backwards too

If the gears are on backwards then it will say 2.4L front when you look at them. Also it could be bad pulleys, or it could be that the crank timing sproket is not all the way on the crank. Did you remove the sproket on the crank shaft? (the one with the key)

doh