how to set the timing on my car

2002 ISUZU AXIOM

120,000 MILES • 3.5L • V6 • 2WD • AUTOMATIC

TRISTAN09

MEMBER
1 POST

I had replaced the water pump on the car and to do that i had to take the timing belt off. Well i took it off and I needed to replace the belt. Now I cannot get the car timed. How do I time the engine. And what cylinder do i time it off of?

Oct 24, 2016 at 5:48 PM

AL514

✓ASE Certified Mechanic
5,587 POSTS

you should have lined up the timing marks before taking the belt off. But here are a bunch of diagrams to help. This is a tough one. Make sure you put the belt tensioner on the correct way too. Line up all the marks and it will be in time. The number two cylinder will be at TDC (top dead center) while timing this vehicle. Make sure the clamp the belt to each cam pulley to keep the belt in place, the last picture is an example of this, it will help immensely. and do not crank the engine over without triple checking these marks and rotating the engine over by hand (with the spark plugs out so there is no compression) two times and make sure to recheck the marks again. You do not want to bend any valves.

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Oct 25, 2016 at 1:54 AM

AL514

✓ASE Certified Mechanic
5,587 POSTS

The book says it may require four engine revolutions to line up the timing marks again, but recheck them before cranking it over.

Oct 25, 2016 at 1:57 AM