Engine timing question

-westy- · 16 Apr 2011 at 14:49

He means seeing how far the belt twists, as it it should only be 90 or 180 degrees, depending on the belt/engine.

InvaderGIR · 16 Apr 2011 at 14:52

Never heard of that method before.

Clarkey · 16 Apr 2011 at 15:08

Forget the lines on the belt, do the sprockets line up with the marks on the engine?

ganesh · 16 Apr 2011 at 17:28

Ok, worry is over now, after enough turning the engine everything eventually lined up correctly. However, my main concern now is that the headgasket is knackered, the reason for doing this work was because the car overheated (needed new water pump). The oil is a kind of coffee colour so i'm pretty sure it's gone, will drive it a bit this week to make sure, but it certainly looks like it'll be going on ebay for spares or repair soon.

Oh well.

-westy- · 16 Apr 2011 at 17:34

ganesh said:
Ok, worry is over now, after enough turning the engine everything eventually lined up correctly. However, my main concern now is that the headgasket is knackered, the reason for doing this work was because the car overheated (needed new water pump). The oil is a kind of coffee colour so i'm pretty sure it's gone, will drive it a bit this week to make sure, but it certainly looks like it'll be going on ebay for spares or repair soon.

Oh well.

Hold on....how many times did you turn the crank to check that the marks still line up?

Clarkey · 16 Apr 2011 at 17:37

Why didn't you investigate this before putting on a new pump and belt?

ganesh · 16 Apr 2011 at 17:37

-westy- said:
Hold on....how many times did you turn the crank to check that the marks still line up?

Lots, however, i'm pretty sure the timing is correct as i've just driven it to tesco and back and it twas fine.

-westy- · 16 Apr 2011 at 17:41

ganesh said:
Lots, however, i'm pretty sure the timing is correct as i've just driven it to tesco and back and it twas fine.

You should only need to turn the crank through 720 degrees and the cams should line up again.

Clarkey · 16 Apr 2011 at 17:47

he's on about the lines on the belt.

ganesh · 16 Apr 2011 at 17:52

Can't remember how many times i turned it but it drove just the same as it did before, wasn't sluggish at all. However, doesn't matter really as i'm sure the headgasket has gone.

-westy- · 16 Apr 2011 at 17:55

Clarkey said:
he's on about the lines on the belt.

Yeah, so logically, if the cams have returned to the original postion, the lines on the belt would have too...

dalin80 · 16 Apr 2011 at 18:25

No, the line on the belt wont line up again after a turn as the belt essentially rotates around while the engine is spinning, its deliberate so that the same section of the belt isnt constantly shock loaded.

give it another 100 or so turns and the lines will eventually get back to the original places.

the lines are only there to help you with the original fitting.