Hi All,

Getting reardy to do the timing belt on my 03 TL. Have couple questions:

1. Which direction do I rotate the crank to get the timing mark lined up? Clockwise or counterclockwise?

2. How do I best to about rotating it? At the crank pulley itself?

thanks,
anthony

 

Always clockwise at the crank pulley bolt, there is an access hole in the right fender well.
If you rotate a little past your marks you can nudge it back a bit but if you get to far past it is best to just spin it around again.

 

Just like he said. Remember, you do not need to line it up before you got the crank bolt removed. rotate it by the crank bolt. It is best to have the crank holding tool.

 

Some very expensive tips I learned from:

Set the crank to TDC before removing the belt.
Don't do like I did once (never happened again) don't rotate the crank with the belt off.

 

Kind of defeats the purpose of doing the t-belt job in the first place lol.

 

Also MAKE sure the cam mark lines up at the same time that the crank mark lines up.

 

Okay.... So use the 19mm socket to rotate the crank CLOCKWISE until the timing marks line up.

Then secure the crank with the crank holder tool, and break the crank BOLT free by turning it counter-clockwise right?

 

Yup.
Or breaker bar secured to something solid, with ignition coils disconnected, bump start the starter.
(You use the engine to break loose the bolt).

 

MAKE SURE the front cam mark is lined up where it should be when the crank mark is lined up. If not you are 180 off.

 

NO WAY that bolt is just loosening. I had to go to my buddies shop to hit it with a 1" impact driver -the same one that releases the lug nuts on an 18 wheeler.
GOOD LUCK!...

 

^^Sometimes you get a bolt that will fight you with everything it has. In that case, the crank pulley removal tool will be the one to give. I believe someone on the forum posted a pic of a broken removal tool.

 

The other day a buddy used a breaker bar, and a chain tool to hold the pulley. Nothing worked.
Till he used an air chisel AND the breaker bar. Had to be over 300ftlbs.

 

Don't use a chain for this! Damaging the pulley is not uncommon.

 

Oh I didn't. I'm too smart to do that. If I did I would cut up and old belt wrap the pulley, then maybe chain the crank.
It's not suggested for anyone! Will tear up belts like nothing.