Hi all,

I messed up and accidentally took out one of the bolts securing the timing belt tentioner while doing the timing belt change.....they are now out of sync. Does anyone know how to get them to TDC without damaging anything? I would have thought that the tentioner would be under the timing covers(but NOOOOO). Please help.....

 

I'm not sure I understand.

I did my daughter's 2002 TLS and the tensioner is under the lower timing cover. It is held in by two small bolts. If you removed one of them the tensioner would have extended and it will need to be compressed and a pin installed to keep it compressed then it will go back in (00-03 models). The shop manual recommends compressing it with a hydraulic press but I understand a vice will work.
Or you can get a new tensioner which will come already compressed.

In removing and replacing the belt you are supposed to loosen the idler pulley bolt which allows it to move to the right and gives you more slack in the belt.

If the timing gears only moved a little bit I would think you could turn them back using a strap wrench or similar tool. This assumes the engine was lined up correctly before you loosened the tensioner. I know if the crankshaft is in the correct position (TDC on #1) as verified by the front cam pulley you can turn the crankshaft 15 deg. beyond TDC so that all the pistons are far enough down in the bores that the cams can be turned without piston to valve contact.

 

In an extreme case, e.g. the belt was removed without aligning the timing marks first, one option is to remove the cams, position the crankshaft 15 deg beyond TDC, reinstall and align the cams with the timing marks and turn the crankshaft back to TDC and install the belt.

 

i could not see in the back of the engine so i was feeling for the bolts. the bolts for the tensioner for my 01 TL are outside the cover. Yes, i screwed up the timing and could be three or four teeth off on the crank and the cam. Can i turn each by hand until i work them all to TDC? I did not mean to undo the tension just yet although i should have aligned everything first.

 

If the timing belt is still in place I don't think the cam gears would have moved with respect to the crankshaft. What you could do is continue to remove all the parts that come out to access the belt, then compress and reinstall the tensioner and line up the timing marks. After that you can proceed as in the manual. Just be sure to only turn things by hand and take out the spark plugs so the engine will turn easily.

 

THANKS, i had to order that SPECIAL TOOL to remove the crankshaft bolt so the project is on hold till Thursday. ill let you know how it turns out. Im gonna do like you said and pull the plugs, turn slowly by hand and pray for the best.

 

They all have marks on them You can set the front rear and crank to TDC by the marks on the pulley/cam gears.

 

Word to the wise-leave the timing belt on when loosening the cam bolts..the wonderful shop I took my car to tried to loosen them with the belt off and Ive been without my car for almost two weeks now because they bent 4 valves, 2 in each head

I guess thats what I get for not doing the job myself..