5VZ Timing Mark Help Needed!

Hey guys,

Quick question:

After installing my new timing belt with everything properly aligned (both cam pulleys and marks on oil pump housing/crankshaft gear) and at TDC my marks on the oil pump and the crankshaft gear will NOT line up. They are consistently off about 3 teeth to the right every time after pulling the timing belt on and off over a dozen times!

I have found very mixed information on this across the different Toyota forums.

Some people say after the two rotations of the crankshaft that ALL 3 sets of marks must align again.

Others say, only pay attention to the marks on the cam pulleys and timing cover after the two crankshaft rotations and if they align properly (which mine do) then you are good to go.

Does anyone have a 100% definitive answer to this? I am about to lose my mind!

 

i recently put a new timing belt on my 01 4runner 3.4L and i dont think the oil pump has to be timed , I think the only thing I lined up were the cams and the crank

 

Have you considered doing it IAW the FSM?

I have attached it for your use. Should you choose to use it.
Good luck
Pat☺

 

There are three markers and they all need to line up with the markers on the timing belt. The following may not be the reason as to why your belt does not line up but if you're going to re-install the belt again, give this a try. The directions say install the belt after all the components have been installed. I found it quite hard to to slide the belt over with everything in place and all the markers properly lined up. The right way to do it, is to not install the hydraulic tensioner. This allows the tensioner pulley to drop a bit and this makes it a lot easier to install the belt. Once the belt is in place, add the hydraulic tensioner and of course don't forget to pull the pin afterwards.

 

Thanks to those of you that responded. I seem to have got it sorted out and installed correctly. Thought I would share what I ended up doing because maybe it will be helpful to someone else in the future:

After a dozen or more times of putting the timing belt on and off again starting with all 3 markers (both cam wheels and the crank gear) properly lined up and completing two full rotations my crankshaft mark was off exactly 1.5 teeth to the right every time. I decided to start by installing the timing belt for the 13th time with the crankshaft mark exactly 1.5 teeth to the left of the mark and after two full rotations (and many more to double/triple check) boom it all lines up!

I honestly can't make ANY sense of this, but it seemed to work! Thanks again for your suggestions and help.

 

I guess I still don't understand why it wasn't working the way it should have for you. At any rate you seem to be all set now so congratulations.