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[kcl]

On my new Gates belt there are green AND white marks for crank sprocket and for left-hand cams (viewed from front towards the engine.) When putting the two WHITE lines inline with crank sprocket it's nearly 5 teeth out on right hand cams. What am I doing wrong?

I tried the green lines as well, resulting the left bank being a tooth late. I only got the upper roller and tensioner adjustable, the lower tensioner is solid and therefore impossible to adjust only the left bank.

I'm really confused and stuck!

[Lizzie_Zoom]

Are you using a cam locking kit? :-/

[kcl]

Yes, locking kit is attached and I have seen the cambelt DVD but I don't have the lower roller adjustable as seen on DVD...

I THINK I must use the white lines but why the 5 tooth difference and why the green lines on the belt?

[tunnie]

Sounds like green marks are right as your only a tooth out, need someone to confirm but I think most belts now don't even come with markings. As long as the markers on the cams line-up with the arrows on the back plate you should be fine 

[kcl]

That's what I thought first. But how to get the left bank on time without disturbing the right? Left is then adjusted with the tensioner only and the upper roller for right bank?

[kcl]

Got it done, more or less spot on timing... The left-most cam seemed to be slightly out, the slot on the timing tool was some 0,05 mm misaligned but I put i ttogether... let's see if it will start tomorrow...

[Andy B]

... the slot on the timing tool was some 0,05 mm misaligned but I put i ttogether....

That'll be close enough. 

even 0,5 is good enough 

[jiho102]

When i did my belt none of the marks lined up after the first bank like it does on the DVD. I think mine was a gates belt as well but a mechanic friend just put it straight on and said as long as the belt is the same length as the old one then their is no probs. . Just follow the DVD after where he turns the belt and double checks the timing then you shoudent have a problem. (all the marks on the belt dont match up after you turn the belt any way).

[feeutfo]

Never had a belt with marks on, don't see the need tbh, and yes the bottom roller on later engines is fixed, as is the timing on the 3/4 bank as a result. So the only timing to be set is on bank 1+2.

3+4 can't be wrong if fitted correctly within a tooth.

[Andy B]

Never had a belt with marks on, .......

how many timing belts have you ever fitted then?    I've done 2, both on my car.  :-/

[feeutfo]

Never had a belt with marks on, .......

how many timing belts have you ever fitted then?    I've done 2, both on my car.  :-/

7 or 8 on omegas  :-/. Tigra 4 pot, focus 4pot, some alfa Romeo 32 valve twin plug pile of crap. Couple of others I can't remember. Oh, ford galaxy. Punto 4 pot.

[Andy B]

....
7 or 8 on omegas  :-/. Tigra 4 pot, focus 4pot, some alfa Romeo 32 valve twin plug pile of crap. Couple of others I can't remember. Oh, ford galaxy. Punto 4 pot.

You must be more enthusiastic than me then. 
I have done other cars' belts too, I was just thing V6 Omegas though. 

[feeutfo]

....
7 or 8 on omegas  :-/. Tigra 4 pot, focus 4pot, some alfa Romeo 32 valve twin plug pile of crap. Couple of others I can't remember. Oh, ford galaxy. Punto 4 pot.

You must be more enthusiastic than me then. 
I have done other cars' belts too, I was just thing V6 Omegas though. 

Certainly had enough of front wheel drive cars, pita. Cam belt itself is easy enough it's access that's annoying. Engine mount off wheel off, where's the jack? Holding the engine up, oh 'dangle berries'  wheel arch liner on some. It's only a 4pot cam belt ffs.

Oh yeah small citroen van of some sort, mate had it in, no room to get a cut down Allen key in the tensioner cause the wheel arch is in the way, ridiculously tight. French see.   

[kcl]

Ok, so for the clarity, if someone faces the same: The green lines on the belt were the right ones, it was simply impossible to have the white ones lined up.

One more question: when is the belt considered as "used belt"? Once it has been turned over 10 times or only after driving the car?

And for encouragement to other members: do not be afraid for this job! Just a lot to dismantle, there is nothing difficult on changing the belt. You just need to be patient and need to follow the guides 

Just to mention: had to re-seal my stat (yes, I used a pattern one with a very narrow O-ring which obviously leaked) with some loctite 599 (or similar, the black goo) and I replaced the crank seal in the front. For that I managed to produce the special tool to hold the sprocket, pretty straight forward.