Timing positions 1997 Rodeo

[eric147]

I'm preparing to take the timing belt off my '97 Rodeo.

I spun the crank, trying to get the lines on the belt to line up with the marks on the cam pulleys. I could get one line eventually to fall on the right cam pulley, but the other line would not line up on the other pulley.

Then there's the crank. According to the manual, which I've been told is slightly less than useless, I should be able to, within two full turns of the crank, get both solid lines on the belt to line up with both marks on the cams, while aligning the groove on the crank pulley with the mark on the oil pump case. The manual shows the groove even with the Woodruf key on the crankshaft. I can't see any alignment mark on the oil pump case. The manual shows the Woodruf key to be at 3 o'clock. When the marks align on the cams with their alignment marks, the crank woodruf key is at 2 o'clock.

The belt was changed once by the dealer, 60K miles ago.

Should I just line up the two cam pulleys with their alignment marks, and install the new belt with the crank in the same position it started?

[2eyefishclaw]

how many teeth on the belt? no one knows but it may possibly take that many turns of the crank to get all of the marks to line up so dont try that again
its an easy job but before you replace the timing belt go and purchase a timing belt tensioner if you dont you will be taking it apart again
ok here we go
on the lower timing gear at the crankshaft you will find a small notch at the rear of the gear that is the timing mark you need to get it lined up with the line on the oil pump it is on the right side (while standing in front of it) just about center of the gear you may need to clean the area to see it now check your cam gears there should be a notch on them lined up with a mark on the valve covers if not rotate the crankshaft 1 full turn you should now be where you need to be your new belt should have two solid lines on it and one dotted line the doted line is the one that goes on the crank gear
clean the oil pump and get some light down there

[eric147]

Thanks for the input!

So I don't have to have the belt all lined up before I take it off. Just the cams and timing gear. And line up the new belt with the marks where they're supposed to be.

Got it.

All the timing belts I've found come as kits with a tensioner. I can get a rebuilt water pump for about $30 cheaper, but I really think I want to go new.

Don't I?

How about those Bosch Platinum spark plugs? Dual, and quadruple ignition points. Worth it or worthless?

[2eyefishclaw]

stay away from rebuilds I am not familliar with all new a/m pumps but if it were my own I would use an Isuzu pump

NEVER NEVER NEVER!!!! USE Bosh platinum plugs my opinion they should be pulled off the shelves and banned from the auto industry they are garbage and forget using any a/m plugs...
use NGK or Nippendenso Denso's are a bit more expensive but I preffer them over NGK

[eric147]

I replaced my water pump and timing belt last night at 118K.

As mentioned before, I had trouble finding the timing gear alignment mark on the motor block. Well I found it, and it the timiung gear was about 3 teeth advanced of it! I took the old belt off, and tried to get the new belt to line up the way the crank was positioned, presumably from the previous timing belt change done at 72K at the dealer.

It would not line up with both marks on the upper cams.

After inventing new swear words and alternately throwing and searching for my tools, I advanced the timing gear to the alignment mark, and after just a little more grunting and swearing, got the belt on with all the marks lined up.

The Rodeo didn't run badly like this. Could there be some reason why the shop had the timing set this way? Besides incompetence? Should I expect it to run better with the timing adjustment I made?

It will be Wednesday before I get it all put back together. I guess I'll find out.