Replacing Timing belt but can't find crank marks

SorryDog · Post by **SorryDog** » 24 Nov 2019, 16:30

A leaking water pump finally forced me to change my timing belt more or less on schedule, but ran into a small snag mid way through job...

I cannot seem to find any marks on the crank belt gear. No dot, no hash, no dimple...I have turned it 360 several times to scan it.

On the cams I see two places that could be correct. One spot has two dimple dots and the other looks like punched hash put in by hand. Both are on the same spot on both cams.

Should I keep looking for the crank marks or do some cranks not have them? Should I just proceed and be extra careful to not turn anything once the belt is on??

I'll put pics on next post in a couple of min...

Post by **cn90** » 24 Nov 2019, 16:34

- Please search forum for tricks.

From above, it is difficult bc the marks on the crank are tiny.
Any easier way is to line up the CAMshafts, you have 50-50 chance the CRANK is on.
Look down, if not on, then turn the Crank another 360 degrees.

Another trick is from the wheel well, use a mirror and look for the marks on the Crank from the wheel well.

SorryDog · Post by **SorryDog** » 24 Nov 2019, 16:36

pics...

SorryDog · Post by **SorryDog** » 24 Nov 2019, 16:38

crank

SorryDog · Post by **SorryDog** » 24 Nov 2019, 16:46

cn90 wrote: ↑24 Nov 2019, 16:34 - Please search forum for tricks.

From above, it is difficult bc the marks on the crank are tiny.
Any easier way is to line up the CAMshafts, you have 50-50 chance the CRANK is on.
Look down, if not on, then turn the Crank another 360 degrees.

Another trick is from the wheel well, use a mirror and look for the marks on the Crank from the wheel well.

I wasn't sure if the correct cam marks were the two dot or the tiny hashes... I assumed the hashes, so I lined those two with the timing cover notches, and then looked as close as I could as the crank with a good light. I see the pin where on the block where they supposed to correspond to, but can't see any marks.... on the block side or not.

On the cams, is it the tiny hand made looking hashes or the two dots?

Post by **xHeart** » 24 Nov 2019, 16:59

Please read this post The EASY way to line up Crank marks for Timing Belt... viewtopic.php?f=1&t=83534

Post by **cn90** » 24 Nov 2019, 17:55

Correction on my previous post...

Assuming your engine is factory or perfectly lined up to start with...

- One CRANK turn = 1/2 turn (or 180 degrees) for the CAM.
- So if you ONLY line the CRANK to mark, you have 50-50 chance of having the CAM on correctly.
- However, if the CAM marks are on, then the CRANK marks must be on. But you need to verify the CRANK marks anyway.

Anyway, this youtube video from FCPEuro is very good:

PS: Search forum, but timing belt ---> Volvo or Conti only.
WP: Aisin is the "king" for the money.

By the time your WP leaks, which is around 170K-200K, your VVT hubs are going south too. This is the joy of owning a used car!

SorryDog · Post by **SorryDog** » 24 Nov 2019, 18:23

CN.... I assumed you meant 1/2 turn.

I did the aisin kit. Quality looks ok.
Plenty of rubber things to replace on this car.

Thanks for post with 1 o'clock crank bolt tip. I'll try that when I take a second crack at the job.

Post by **GlennG2759** » 24 Nov 2019, 18:29

I did timing belt on the same year and model a couple months ago, first time.The marks are there, although I didn't think so either. They're very small. Take your crank pulley off and align it, then see what you have up top, use a paint pen to mark all alignment marks. Even with the crank pulley off it's still kinda of difficult to see the marks. Good Luck, you'll get. Camshaft locking tool (which I didn't have) would be a great help too.