Changing cam belt with engine in place? - Cars & Trucks

I have often used vice grip pliers on non machined surface of cams wrapped in a rag to carefully turn cams to correct position. This should only involve slight adjustment if everything was lined up when you took the old belt off. IF NOT, or old belt had broken, you need to know if your engine is an "interference" or "non-interference" engine before you go further.

This belt should be under the covers that are in front of the engine. I must caution you that the belt is not placed exactly in the correct position you may have engine failure.

The timing must be off. There is a crank lock that must be installed when changing the belt and also a holding "jig" that holds the cams in place while you are changing the belts. Also the cam pulleys must be separated and free from the cam shafts when installing the belt and tensioning in order for the engine to be timed correctly.

place engine at TDC, remove timing cover, remover belt, install new belt, be sure cam timing marks align and engine stays at TDC, i recomend buying a service manual, they cost about 15 bucks and save alot of headaches for begginers

There is a small cover on the bottom center of the transmission. It's held in by 2, 8mm bolts.

To change the timing belt: first place the right side of the vehicle on a jack stand and remove the right front tire. Remove the plastic cover inside the wheel well to expose the harmonic balancer. Remove the serpentine belt (standard 3/8" rachet will set in the belt tensioner to relieve tension). Remove the harmonic balancer (19mm). Place a jack under the engine on the right side of the vehicle, then remove the engine mount from the top of the fender well, (17mm deep well socket and 17mm wrench required) it is not necessary to remove the mount from the side of the engine. Remove the timing cover, (10mm) it has 2 nuts. Loosen the timing belt tensioner, (10mm) then pry it away to relieve the tension. Slide the timing belt off of the cam gear.

To position the new belt, the cam gear has a arrow on it, and the cylinder head has a small dot. Align the arrow with dot, and make sure it is aligned (the arrow must point up). The crank gear has a notch and the engine has a groove to align the notch. Again, make sure the notch and groove are aligned (they again will be up). Place the new timing belt in position around the crank gear, the water pump and belt tensioner and leave the slack at the top. Again relieve any tension from the belt tensioner, and slide the belt on to the cam gear. Place a slight bit of tension on the belt and tighten the belt tensioner. Use the 19mm bolt from the harmonic balancer and turn the engine 2 complete turns and verify that the cam gear and crank gear are in their proper positions and aligned with the dots and notches. After 2 complete turns of the engine, and verifying everything is still aligned, re-assemble in reverse. No further adjustment is necessary.

Note:There is no timing adjustment for this vehicle, and if you are not properly aligned on the cam gear and crank gear it will not run properly.

To change the timing belt first place the right side of the vehicle on a jack stand and remove the right front tire. Remove the plastic cover inside the wheel well to expose the harmonic balancer. Remove the serpentine belt (standard 3/8" rachet will set in the belt tensioner to relieve tension). Remove the harmonic balancer (19mm). Place a jack under the engine on the right side of the vehicle, then remove the engine mount from the top of the fender well, (17mm deep well socket and 17mm wrench required) it is not necessary to remove the mount from the side of the engine. Remove the timing cover, (10mm) it has 2 nuts. Loosen the timing belt tensioner, (10mm) then pry it away to relieve the tension. Slide the timing belt off of the cam gear.

To position the new belt, the cam gear has a arrow on it, and the cylinder head has a small dot. Align the arrow with dot, and make sure it is aligned (the arrow must point up). The crank gear has a notch and the engine has a groove to align the notch. Again, make sure the notch and groove are aligned (they again will be up). Place the new timing belt in position around the crank gear, the water pump and belt tensioner and leave the slack at the top. Again relieve any tension from the belt tensioner, and slide the belt on to the cam gear. Place a slight bit of tension on the belt and tighten the belt tensioner. Use the 19mm bolt from the harmonic balancer and turn the engine 2 complete turns and verify that the cam gear and crank gear are in their proper positions and aligned with the dots and notches. After 2 complete turns of the engine, and verifying everything is still aligned, re-assemble in reverse. No further adjustment is necessary.

Note:There is no timing adjustment for this vehicle, and if you are not properly aligned on the cam gear and crank gear it will not run properly.

You obviously need to replace your TPS, and you may need a new belt tensioner as well. On these cars the timing belt setup is not about no 1 cylinder being top dead center. Here are the proper steps to do a timing belt on this vehicle:

To change the timing belt first place the right side of the vehicle on a jack stand and remove the right front tire. Remove the plastic cover inside the wheel well to expose the harmonic balancer. Remove the serpentine belt (standard 3/8" rachet will set in the belt tensioner to relieve tension). Remove the harmonic balancer (19mm). Place a jack under the engine on the right side of the vehicle, then remove the engine mount from the top of the fender well, (17mm deep well socket and 17mm wrench required) it is not necessary to remove the mount from the side of the engine. Remove the timing cover, (10mm) it has 2 nuts. Loosen the timing belt tensioner, (10mm) then pry it away to relieve the tension. Slide the timing belt off of the cam gear.

To position the new belt, the cam gear has a arrow on it, and the cylinder head has a small dot. Align the arrow with dot, and make sure it is aligned (the arrow must point up). The crank gear has a notch and the engine has a groove to align the notch. Again, make sure the notch and groove are aligned (they again will be up). Place the new timing belt in position around the crank gear, the water pump and belt tensioner and leave the slack at the top. Again relieve any tension from the belt tensioner, and slide the belt on to the cam gear. Place a slight bit of tension on the belt and tighten the belt tensioner. Use the 19mm bolt from the harmonic balancer and turn the engine 2 complete turns and verify that the cam gear and crank gear are in their proper positions and aligned with the dots and notches. After 2 complete turns of the engine, and verifying everything is still aligned, re-assemble in reverse. No further adjustment is necessary.

Note:There is no timing adjustment for this vehicle, and if you are not properly aligned on the cam gear and crank gear it will not run properly.

it is done on that car because they will turn as soon as you take the belt off then you will have to go in and align everything not sure were to rent them but you can buy them at any part store there like little rods you stick in the cam holes to hold it in place

not fun. Have to take off all the belt driven stuff, Alternator ps pump etc. undo the bolts holding the cover in place, remove the cover and the belt will be under that. Put something in place to release the tensioner and remove the belt carefully so you dont move the cam or crank. slide on the new belt release the tensioners and put the cover and belt driven stuff back. I would recommend a new water pump while you are in there. they arent that expensive and might as well do it now than do the whole works again if it fails. new tensioners now a bad idea either.

There is no timing adjustment "at all" for a 1999 escort. If your timing is out, your timing belt has slipped and needs to be replaced.

To change the timing belt first disconnect your negative battery cable, then place the right side of the vehicle on a jack stand and remove the right front tire. Remove the plastic cover inside the wheel well to expose the harmonic balancer. Remove the serpentine belt (standard 3/8" rachet will set in the belt tensioner to relieve tension). Remove the harmonic balancer (19mm). Place a jack under the engine on the right side of the vehicle, then remove the engine mount from the top of the fender well, (17mm deep well socket and 17mm wrench required) it is not necessary to remove the mount from the side of the engine. Remove the timing cover, (10mm) it has 6 bolts and nuts. Loosen the timing belt tensioner, (10mm) then use a 3/8" rachet in the belt tensioner to relieve the tension. While relieving the tension slide the timing belt off of the cam gear.

To position the new belt, the cam gear has a arrow on it, and the cylinder head has a small dot. Align the arrow with dot, and make sure it is aligned (the arrow must point up). The crank gear has a notch and the engine has a groove to align the notch. Again, make sure the notch and groove are aligned (they again will be up). Place the new timing belt in position around the crank gear, the water pump and belt tensioner and leave the slack at the top. Again use a 3/8" ratchet to relieve any tension from the belt tensioner, and slide the belt on to the cam gear. Place a slight bit of tension on the belt and tighten the belt tensioner. Use the 19mm bolt from the harmonic balancer and turn the engine 2 complete turns and verify that the cam gear and crank gear are in their proper position and aligned with the dots and notches. After 2 complete turns of the engine, and verifying everything is still aligned, re-assemble in reverse. No further adjustment is necessary.

Note:There is no timing adjustment for this vehicle, and if you are not properly aligned on the cam gear and crank gear it will not run properly.