...and i was hoping to get a few tips before i start the job!

never done a timing belt, so i figure i might as well get some input. i've gone over the hmaservice info, etc. i can do just about anything on a car, it just happens that i have never had the chance to do the t-belt.

car in question is a 2004 accent gsi with the 1.6L engine. my main questions are this:

getting the main pulley off isn't difficult with my electric impact, but what about torquing it back on? how would you keep the pulley stationary to get the necessary torque on without the engine turning?

when lining up the timing marks on the cam sprocket and crank, are there marks for TDC on the crack? i know there are marks on the cam sprocket, but unsure about the crank.

when putting the belt on, is stretch of the belt an issue when clamping down the tensioner? i'm more concerned of having the crank/cam lined up and then have things go out of alignment when i tighten the belt.

thanks for the help guys, please any other tips/tricks you can think of too!

 

Very easy job. First to hold the crank to tighten it I use a pulley chain with an old drivebelt so it doesnt damage pulley grooves. Next there is a mark on the housing of the oil pump which alignes with the one on crank. Now as for slack put on timing belt on crank go to idler pulley and then to cam keeping it tight with no slack now go to tensioner and loosen both bolts on tensioner one in middle and slotted one. The tensioner should have been pushed all the way to the top before belt installed. This is a very basic timing system on this one . Replace tensioner if u have alot of miles they go bad alot.

 

Whan the nut off the crank, tweak it to align the marks.. flip the belt, adjust tension, re-assemble.. wham the bolt on the crank pulley, dont matter if it turn, you already got the timing belt on and tensioned..

 

I'm researching doing the TB on my son's 2008 Accent 1.6L. Is this the same engine? I have done this on my V6 4Runner and reading the procedure on hmaservice.com it all looks straight forward except the tension adjustment. Does it really require the digital gadget? If not, how do you do it? Just wing it by feel? (There was no tension adjustment on the 4Runner, that's the tensioner's job.)

 

Do enough of them it is nothing to "wing it"... thumb and fore finger, snug tension enough that you can twist belt approx 45 degree in middle,, on the long "pull" side of belt (not the side with tension idle pulley)..

Accent is piece of cake belt to do, just gots to get past the water pump pulley bolts

 

Thanks SBR711, I figured I could 'wing' it--I've been wrenching a long time and I have a pretty good feel for these things. It's reassuring to hear from someone who has done a few on this motor.

 

Possible you might make a video tutorial? :]

 

me do video? i guess i can give it a try...get the wife to help...i'm better with pics though.

if i do it won't be for a while....pulled off the timing belt cover and the thing is still in very good shape so i'm probably going to push it through the winter. i start my new job thursday and i've just had enough of working on cars lately. i'll keep an eye on it and if it starts looking like it needs replacement before the winter is over i'll have a local shop i trust do the job.

well knowing me i wont let that happen lol.

 

I've got 38k on my 2008 and need to do this. Do these things break at that mileage?

 

No, you can let it fly up to 60, and then some... just dont try and go a lifetime with it..

I had 179,000 on a TOYOTA Corolla timing belt (had 120+ on the drive belts),, looked good enough to still use for run around, but being a '93 and that mileage, figure we were pushing it.. car is a 3rd for us, sits all time.