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[V6 CDX-er]

Finishing off changing my cambelt and I've come across a little problem.

Last night I was under the car holding the cambelt in place at the crank while my wife thread it up and across the four banks, (my 'wedge' won't hold it in place and it was easier if two of us did the job).

when we came to fitting the belt to banks 3 & 4, we couldn't get it over the camshaft pulleys, as it seems like the belt is about half a tooth out.

The pics below should explain things better;

Banks 1 & 2 on ok and lined up;



But banks 3 & 4 a little out. Even if we manage to get the teeth on at the 12 o clock position, we cant get them on at the 3 o clock position on camshaft no;4





To try and help we have removed the tensioner / roller that is located to the right of the water pump;





I am wondering if storing the new cambelt out in a freezing cold garage for several weeks has caused the cambelt to shrink a little, (it came as part of a kit from my local VX main dealer)?

Would it be a good or a bad idea to soak the cambelt in a bucket of hot water for a few minutes in order to make it a little more plyable and stretchy? Would this weaken the belt or cause any other damage?

Or do you chaps have any other suggestions?


In advance, many thanks  :

[mrjimbo]

Are you sure you have fully slackened the tensioner between the two banks ?

[Andy H]

I would attach the crank locking tool to the crank and wind the crank back 1/2 a tooth to allow the belt to slip on.

I am assuming that you have the full cam timing kit. If you haven't you can safely wind the crank back 60 degrees if you want using an adjustable spanner on the crank pulley.

[V6 CDX-er]

Are you sure you have fully slackened the tensioner between the two banks ?

Am I sure......  er...... no, I'm not     Bloody good idea. Thank you 

I just whacked it on along with the new tensioner backing plate.

if it isn't this, are there any other things it could be?

[V6 CDX-er]

I would attach the crank locking tool to the crank and wind the crank back 1/2 a tooth to allow the belt to slip on.

I am assuming that you have the full cam timing kit. If you haven't you can safely wind the crank back 60 degrees if you want using an adjustable spanner on the crank pulley.

That's not a bad suggestion either Andy. Cheers 

Would that knock the timing out though?

[JasonH]

Mine was like this. You definitely need the pulley off at the bottom right.

Just pull it tight and push it on, after some tugging it just slipped on. Then you can refit the pulley.

[TheBoy]

you are putting the belt on in an anticlockwise direction? So crank - idler - cam4 - cam3 - idler - cam2 - cam1 - tensioner

[V6 CDX-er]

you are putting the belt on in an anticlockwise direction? So crank - idler - cam4 - cam3 - idler - cam2 - cam1 - tensioner

No. Clockwise.

Crank, idler / roller, 1 & 2, idler / roller, 3 & 4, then I'll fit the final idler / roller and loop it around that.

Should I be putting it on anti-clockwise?

[Welung666]

you are putting the belt on in an anticlockwise direction? So crank - idler - cam4 - cam3 - idler - cam2 - cam1 - tensioner

No. Clockwise.

Crank, idler / roller, 1 & 2, idler / roller, 3 & 4, then I'll fit the final idler / roller and loop it around that.

Should I be putting it on anti-clockwise?

Yes.

[rob in gib]

It might be worth checking that the new tensioner backing plate is the same as the last one a mate of mine bought was slightly different
so we swaped over the tensioner and rollers and all was fine

worth a check

[Welung666]

It might be worth checking that the new tensioner backing plate is the same as the last one a mate of mine bought was slightly different
so we swaped over the tensioner and rollers and all was fine

worth a check

Good point R there are 2 types on tensioner plates for the earlier cars with about 5mm difference on the bolt centres. Have a quick measure

[V6 CDX-er]

It might be worth checking that the new tensioner backing plate is the same as the last one a mate of mine bought was slightly different
so we swaped over the tensioner and rollers and all was fine

worth a check

Good point R there are 2 types on tensioner plates for the earlier cars with about 5mm difference on the bolt centres. Have a quick measure

It makes mention of this on the cambelt change DVD. By eye they looked exactly the same, were ordered via VX main dealer, (although that not guarantee that the parts are correct), and both items had matching numbers stamped on them.

On the flip side, 5mm would explain it being half a tooth out?

Is it possible for the parts to be different, but with the same numbers stamped on them?

[Welung666]

No they are different part numbers. Just run a tape measure between the bolt centres on the new and old casting

[Elite Pete]

It looks like the top guide hasn't been set right

[Andy B]

It looks like the top guide hasn't been set right

or the belt has been fitted clockwise