Timing issue Topic is solved

Mstrshkbrnnn · Post by **Mstrshkbrnnn** » 10 Jul 2019, 00:24

So my cam seals were leaking, and I’ve yet to do my timing belt since purchasing this car so I figured I’d do both at once w help from a coworker. We did it all in one go over the course of two days. I marked the cams to the cam gears, but in the process of removing the cam seals and spraying them w pb blaster, the marking on the cams wore off. My coworker said it should be no problem (I didn’t believe him, but didn’t know what to do so we just continued the rest of the work) but clearly it is a problem. After about 12 hours over the course of two days replacing the two front cam seals, timing belt and accessories, and serpentine belt, we started it and to no surprise my timing was off. I have no idea how to fix this issue in a manner that doesn’t require me ripping the motor apart. Any help would be greatly appreciated as this is (was) my only working car and I desperately need it working well again ASAP

Post by **alschnertz** » 10 Jul 2019, 03:47

For me, a camshaft holding tool makes the job easier.
Using that now on your car would require taking everything apart again.
But not sure what other choice you have at this point.

Post by **abscate** » 10 Jul 2019, 03:48

Are you stuck trying to put the cam gears back on the cams in one of three orientations?

I have Vvt cars so I’m not familiar with the procedure there but someone else will chime in here.

As long as you leave the crankshaft pulley on the clearance mark, you won’t have valve and piston contact , so don’t worry about it too much. Don’t turn motor until you have it right

tardcart · Post by **tardcart** » 10 Jul 2019, 04:55

you say you started it. You either have it right or close to right or the valves are bent. did you turn it over one rotation by hand and check for interference and recheck the timing marks? (plugs out to make this easier)

Mstrshkbrnnn · Post by **Mstrshkbrnnn** » 10 Jul 2019, 08:15

The timing marks on the cam gears are irrelevant. The cam gears don’t sit on the cams correctly so the marks on them are arbitrary. I need to get the cam gear and cam in time w each other

Post by **erikv11** » 10 Jul 2019, 11:18

Assuming this is a non-VVT engine (98 or prior):

(1) Put the crank on the mark. Be very careful, it must be exactly on the mark. Remove the timing belt. Check the crank again to make sure it is on the mark.
(2) Align the slots on the rear of the cams, parallel to the head surface. Slot on exhaust cam is offset low, slot on the intake cam is offset high. Google for pics of this. Again be careful, they must be parallel or very nearly so, you are setting timing.
(3) Install the cam gears however you want, if you wish to you can re-use the timing marks that were stamped into them.
(4) Reinstall the belt, make sure everything is still in time, rotate engine etc as in buttoning up a timing belt job.

Step 2 is where some people use cam tools to lock them horizontal (parallel) but that is not necessary if you are deliberate and check things.

Mstrshkbrnnn · Post by **Mstrshkbrnnn** » 10 Jul 2019, 14:11

erikv11 wrote: ↑10 Jul 2019, 11:18 Assuming this is a non-VVT engine (98 or prior):

(1) Put the crank on the mark. Be very careful, it must be exactly on the mark. Remove the timing belt. Check the crank again to make sure it is on the mark.
(2) Align the slots on the rear of the cams, parallel to the head surface. Slot on exhaust cam is offset low, slot on the intake cam is offset high. Google for pics of this. Again be careful, they must be parallel or very nearly so, you are setting timing.
(3) Install the cam gears however you want, if you wish to you can re-use the timing marks that were stamped into them.
(4) Reinstall the belt, make sure everything is still in time, rotate engine etc as in buttoning up a timing belt job.

Step 2 is where some people use cam tools to lock them horizontal (parallel) but that is not necessary if you are deliberate and check things.

thank you so much!! in the time it took me to see this post i figured it out and bit the bullet and dropped around $200. about 80 on the matco truck buying a quality seal puller kit, and another 120ish overnight shipping a cam lock from fcp. I appreciate all the help from you guys! ironically enough i work at a dealership as a tech, but at a vw audi dealership, and no one here knows how to work on whiteblock volvos

Post by **wizechatmgr** » 12 Jul 2019, 19:10

Mstrshkbrnnn wrote: ↑10 Jul 2019, 14:11
erikv11 wrote: ↑10 Jul 2019, 11:18 Assuming this is a non-VVT engine (98 or prior):

(1) Put the crank on the mark. Be very careful, it must be exactly on the mark. Remove the timing belt. Check the crank again to make sure it is on the mark.
(2) Align the slots on the rear of the cams, parallel to the head surface. Slot on exhaust cam is offset low, slot on the intake cam is offset high. Google for pics of this. Again be careful, they must be parallel or very nearly so, you are setting timing.
(3) Install the cam gears however you want, if you wish to you can re-use the timing marks that were stamped into them.
(4) Reinstall the belt, make sure everything is still in time, rotate engine etc as in buttoning up a timing belt job.

Step 2 is where some people use cam tools to lock them horizontal (parallel) but that is not necessary if you are deliberate and check things.
thank you so much!! in the time it took me to see this post i figured it out and bit the bullet and dropped around $200. about 80 on the matco truck buying a quality seal puller kit, and another 120ish overnight shipping a cam lock from fcp. I appreciate all the help from you guys! ironically enough i work at a dealership as a tech, but at a vw audi dealership, and no one here knows how to work on whiteblock volvos

So sorry =)