Timing belt is escaping!
 

So I'm driving along in front of a mexican in a neon'd-out El Camino pimped out with fuzzy dingo-balls when I hear a "cruhggrukurkukeherrr" (sp?).

He pulls along side me and I complement him on the fuzziness of his balls and then smile and point at his engine.

He smiles back and shakes his head. He then points at my engine.

So I turn down the euro-techno and realize that the sound was coming from my engine!!!! :eek:

So anyways... my timing belt seems to be slipping off. =/ (it's like 1/4 off)

Does this usually happen due to bad tensioners or is there something else I should be looking to replace?

Thanks for the info.

Chances are you didn't get the pulley out to the propper 75 lbs of torque before you tightened it. I would check that before the tensioner.

Sounds like your crankshaft timing sprocket is messed up. The cogged pulley that goes on the crank behind the aluminum lower timing cover that the timing belt is driven by.

Nothing is torqued to 75ft/lbs down there. Crank pulley is 195ft/lbs and the timing belt tensioner is 36ft/lbs.

I'll double check that in my tsrm. I could have swore it was 75 lbs because I was worried I didn't hit the mark.


If it's 36lbs, I'm golden.

The only reason the belt will move forward on the gears is because the "washer" that is part of the t-belt drive gear on the crankshaft has come loose from the gear.

The Toyota dealer can get you one over night for about $85.
Best to change the t-belt too, as it has now been damaged.

Better to NOT drive the car until fixed.

I finally have everything taken apart.

The washer you speak of is the thin black ring that is set into the lower timing cover right?

Can I reattach it or do I have to replace the gear?

if i recall that timing gear should be a one piece unit, you will need a replacement

do everything while you're there since it's apart

crank seal and cams, timing belt, tensioner

Yes. the t-belt crank gear comes as a one-piece item. Those 'washer' looking ends are put on at the factory with a machine. If you look very close (magnafying glass helps), you will see small crimps in the metal that hold those washers to the gear.

Mine did the same thing. I have lots of experience with 'out-in-the field', and home remedy repairs, so I spot-welded the washer onto the gear.

I don't recommend this procedure to everyone.