Ok i've been reading the manual and plan to do this very soon. I see how easy it is to take off and get to but my concern is that the manual (manual on cd) tells me how to take it off step by step. Then it tells me after i reinstal belt, realign the marks then turn 3 teeth counterclockwise! After that you are to use a special tool to turn the crankshaft twice in the counterclockwise direction. My question is did those of you who did it yourself put it back on and align marks and then replace the covers and such or did you use this special too and rotate it the right way? Im just wondering if i can get by w/o getting these tools.

-heath

 

I don't have any fancy engine tools and I've done mine many times.

briefly: with the belt off the cam gear, I just rotated the crank clockwise (always clockwise) until I got it where I wanted it. It helps if you pull on the belt a little should you need to move the crank.
Jack up the car, remove passenger's front tire, remove that plastic junk. Find the belt tensioner bolt and loosen it a little. without the belt on, align the hole in the cam gear with the tab on the cam. Now, keep it in basically that position and put the gear under the belt. Pull up on the gear and belt and get the pin on the cam into the hole and start to get the gear on the cam. I usually have my wif pull up on the belt tensioner arm to relieve tension. Use the cam bolt to tighten the gear onto the cam.
Re tighten the tensioner, and put everyting back.


FWIW if you're jsut doing a cam gear or cam swap and don't move the crank, you shouldn't have to do much.

your mileage may vary, and I'm not responsible if you mess up your engine. But that's how I've done mine umpteen time now.

 

im just replacing the timing belt...

 

helpfull tip: mark your old belt and sprockets, transfer marks to new belt. It will give you reference even with timing marks aligned. better be sure than sorry

 

helpful tool: zip ties