Urgent 3S-Fe Timing Belt

[AvensisT22]

Just to confirm, I can't do any damage by turning the engine by hand from the crankshaft pulley, either clockwise or anticlockwise can I?

This won't bend any valves in the engine?

I noticed when I turn it when belt goes slack, the tight and it's harder to turn when it gets tighter then slackens up suddenly again making it easier to turn... I can't hear any worrying metallic noises, which is a good sign...

But still the Crankcase Pulley notch and the 0 timing mark and the Camshaft Pulley Hole and the mark and the 12 notch that lines up when the pulley and mark meet are not in sync... I've tried turning the engine backwards but the belt doesn't slip any teeth, so It can't of been before of that....

If I take the belt off as it is now...

and Manually set each Pulley to the factory marks... by turning the Camshaft and Crank seperately will I do any damage?

Please help I really thought this engine was non-interference lots of places seem to suggest that the 3S-FE is freewheeling...

Replies appreciated ASAP please.

[Thermal]

What I've found for the 3S-FE engine, it's non-interference.

This engine was used in the Carina and Camry, and you can find a lot of detailed information related to cambelt replacements and timing on the "Toyota Nation" site.

To remove the crankshaft pulley, you'll need a special pulley holding device.

You also need a pulley puller and maybe a jack to support the engine since you may need to remove the right engine mount to get to the cambelt cover.

Good luck.

[AvensisT22]

I think when I loosen the tensioner bolt through the timing cover, as I thought it held the cover on.... and then turned the crank, it must of moved the crank out of alignment when the tensioner was retightened....

So I loosen the tension with the marks on the camshaft aligned, then rotated the crank so the mark was at the 0 on the timing scale, the retensioned the belt.

Now the marks line up properly...

I can't of done any damage moving the crank seperately from the camshaft, can I?

[Jamesbelfast]

According to the Gates (a majpor timing belt manufactuer) catalogue yout engine is no-interference. Do a Google search and ask the question "Is the Toyota 3S-FE engine non interference"

Also try the link below.

http://www.gates.com/downloads/download_common.cfm?file=428-1466_web.pdf&folder=brochure

[Thermal]

I can't of done any damage moving the crank seperately from the camshaft, can I?

No.

I've seen a picture somewhere of the 3S-fe engine internals, but can't find it anymore.

The piston heads have recesses opposite the valves, so that even when the valves reach their maximum opening they never come into contact with the piston.

That's not an ideal form for a combustion chamber, but saves a lot of money if the cambelt breaks.

They did break, so today we are back with chains.