Doing timing belt for my friend's car and have run into an issue with TDC alignment and hoping to get some advice. It seems that it is off by a tooth at the crank shaft, please check this pic




What would be the best way to fix this without having to start over again? Unfortunately, i have already pulled the pin on the auto tensioner. Would very much appreciate suggestions!

 

Sometimes the fastest way is the longlway. In your situation the best way is to start over.

Remove the tensioner and repin it by pushing the tensioner back in and restaking. Try using a vise or something similar... Like a C clamp.

 

by turning the crank again once i take the belt off, will it align itself back to TDC?

 

No, it's a four cycle engine. Should be four revolutions at the crank for the piston to be back up at TDC but you can confirm buy checking the number one piston through the spark plug hole with a screw driver to get a positive confirmation that the piston is indeed at TDC.

Note, the piston will be at TDC two of the four strokes. One for compression and the other for the exhaust stroke with the T belt off.

With the T belt connected then the valves will come into play so only one TDC in four strokes (all timing marks align). On the exhaust stroke the number one piston is at the TDC but the timing marks are not in alignment. Meaning the exhaust valves are open so no compression.

 

You can try doing the battery tie down method to get the pin back in.. it's a bitch.
If you can, line up the crank and the front bank TDC, then rotate rear back to TDC
Put the belt back on with all the slack removed except for where the auto tensioner is..

Double Triple check your marks and pull the pin.
You could also just remove the tensioner and use a press to get the pin back in.
Worst case, get a new one. It's fairly inexpensive.

 

use something to clamp the tensioner and pull the belt off... its not going to align by itself

 

And how do you propose to do that?

 

C clamp, vise, anything else that clamps things

 

So you think you can fit any of those clamps in there?
Any other useful advice you'd like to add?

 

Thank you all for your input, i ended up removing the belt and tensioner, used a C clamp to press it down and re-insert the pin. I turned the crank back one tooth to align it up also making sure the top 2 cams remained in TDC and then put everything back together. I have to admit removing the pin from the tensioner the first time around was pretty easy but the second time was not. I had to install the battery tie down in order to get it out. I ran out of time so I still have not finished the job and have not started the car up yet to make sure everything is smooth but i will in next few days, i still need to also replace the power steering pump with a new one. I'm hoping these steps I did should work out ok. I will let you know. Thanks again.

 

Yeah, some dude wrote an epic timing belt DIY where he repeatedly tells you to double/triple check those marks. If only the OP had read it...

Anyhow, lesson learned I assume? Glad it's fixed, OP!!

 

Started the car and running fine, thanks again!

 

yes start over

 

aye what is the mark line on the top right