2006 xc70 crank pulley not aligned with cams

[AverageJoeInPhoenix]

The crank pulley is 180 degrees off the mark when the cams are lined up with the notches in the timing belt cover.

Seriously. The Ask an Expert says that I need to get a crankshaft tool, remove the starter and re-align the crank. (My terms my not be completely accurate - I'm not a trained car mechanic). And, I have to pray that the valves are not bent. Note that the engine never ran/started after the TB was installed the first time.

This all started with a simple timing belt (TB) replacement that has most likely gone very bad.

How do I know that the marks are off? With the TB installed and a 30 mm socket, I turned the crank and aligned the cams and then removed the auxiliary drive belt pulley and checked the crank pulley alignment mark - it was off by 180 degrees.

[chrism]

The first thing you want to do at this point is to remove all the spark plugs. That way you won't be fighting compression when you are trying to rotate the crank, being very careful to detect any piston/valve contact. Leave the belt on as-is for the moment. Then, slowly and CAREFULLY rotate the crank until its timing mark aligns. If you feel any internal contact, STOP. (Cam sprockets will now be about 90 deg off mark.) Note: With the crank sprocket on its timing mark, the crank is not quite at TDC, but it is a few degrees off of TDC so that none of the pistons are quite at the top of their stroke. This is sometimes referred to as the "safe" position so that the belt can now be removed and the cams rotated independently without fear of valve/piston contact. So with the crank sprocket stationary on its mark, carefully rotate each cam sprocket up to its respective timing mark, still being careful to STOP if you feel any internal contact. Once you have all three sprockets on mark, put the belt back on, set the tensioner per normal instructions for your engine, and rotate the crank a few times to make sure all three marks keep landing on mark as they should.

If you never removed the cam sprockets from their cam shafts, you shouldn't need a cam alignment tool to get it all back in sync. If, however, you DID remove the cam sprockets (like to replace the cam seals), then you'll need a tool to properly align sprockets to cams as they are not keyed.

[AverageJoeInPhoenix]

OK. Things are beginning to look up.

I'm glad that I never removed the cam sprockets. A generous thank you. I will try and post my progress. Please be patient. I drive a passenger van on long runs for a living and have mandatory down times to rest, so it will be a couple of days before I can get back under the hood.

Again, thank you. I will let you know how it comes out.

[AverageJoeInPhoenix]

It Worked!
Just like you said:
1. Marked the cams with white-out, so I could easily find the alignment marks.
2. I aligned the crank.
3. I removed the timing belt.
4. I manually turned the cams clockwise, with the timing belt top cover in place, and aligned the cams.
5. I put on the timing belt and tensioned. Please note that it took me a few tries to get the cams lined up with the timing belt on, i.e. I would remove the timing belt and move a cam clockwise OR counterclockwise to get both the intake and exhaust cams lined up before calling it good.
6. Button it up - put back on the timing belt cover, put on a new serpentine belt, install new spark plugs, and buttoned up the engine.
7. Double checked the engine compartment for everything - Bolts, screws, hoses, clamps, radiator fluid level, loose tools and towels, and flashlights.
8. Put the wheel back on and cleared the area for ignition.
And it purrs.
Thank you.

[chrism]

"... Please note that it took me a few tries to get the cams lined up with the timing belt on..."

Often times everything looks properly aligned until you set the belt tension - then you find yourself a tooth off.

Glad to hear it worked out for you.