Hi Andrew.
With the timing cover off, take a look at the Cam and Crank Gear. They will
have a small "punch" mark on both of them. You need to make sure that both
of these are lined up (facing each other). Rotate the engine 360 degrees to
make sure that they line up again...just to make sure. If this is correct,
the Cam and Crank timing is set properly. (This is from the '97 FSM for a
2.5L...and it shows that they use a chain as well.)
They also have a verification test to make sure that it is installed
properly buy rotating the assembly to a (pictured in the manual) location
where there's a 20-tooth count between them. I can't draw this on the
computer and I, unfortunately, don't have a scanner handy at this moment.
:(
If you want to find TDC (or very close to it) on #1, find yourself a cork,
shave it to fit the plug hole, and turn the crank until the cork pops. This
should be very close to TDC and maybe only a few degrees off...you can turn
the crank to get the balancer to match TDC. (Old trick that still works
today.) You need to make sure that the Cam and Crank gears are set properly
though to get this to work.
Does the engine turn over really hard as if something it holding it back?
If so, you could be off on the timing gears (advanced).
Hope this helps you...
- Bernd
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-dakota-truck@buffnet.net
Subject: DML: New To List, Possible Timing Problem
Hello,
I am new to this list, and have caused myself some problems with my Dakota,
inadvertently of course......
The truck is a 95 regular cab, inline 4cyl with the 5 speed tranny.
After buying the truck one week ago, I decided some routine maintenence was
in order, so I changed the oil, filters, plugs, etc....
After changing the timing belt (runs between the cam and crank) I can no
longer get the truck to start. I have checked everything I can think of,
plugs are firing, etc.. and I do not believe either the cam or crank was
moved in the process, so I am at a loss, If I have bumped either of these,
I can get TDC on the crank, but am unsure as to how to find TDC on the cam.
Any help or suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks
Andrew Dennis
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Fri Jun 20 2003 - 11:57:24 EDT