OPINION: Timing Mark Location Change Between Old and New OEM Parts

[lothian]

[size=5]2006 Hyundai Azera Limited
148k miles

The harmonic balancer (a.k.a, crankshaft pulley, dampener, etc) exhibited the usual signs of imminent failure, so I replaced it.

I noticed and recorded a worrisome issue between the old and new pulleys: the timing mark is located in a different position on the new pulley. Take a gander at the images below. The timing mark on the old Hyundai OEM part is at ~+39.2°; the timing mark on the new Hyundai OEM part is at ~ -19.5°. Seems to me, at some point–like, say, during a timing belt replacement job–the disparate timing marks on the new pulley are going to be an issue. I mean, I confirmed this is the correct part–23124-3C201; And it’s a Genuine Hyundai part.

I presume Hyundai engineers relocated the timing mark from ~+39.2° to ~ -19.5° for some reason? Anyone have thoughts on this?[/size]

[IMG]https://i1270.photobucket.com/albums/jj608/lothianmcadam/car_stuff/23124-3C201.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i1270.photobucket.com/albums/jj608/lothianmcadam/car_stuff/39.2.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i1270.photobucket.com/albums/jj608/lothianmcadam/car_stuff/19.5.jpg[/IMG]

Topic

[Its me]

Only thing I can think is that they may have made a revision to the timing belt/chain cover and placed the timing/TDC location marker in another location. I would wonder if you looked at later timing covers for your model/make if that was in a different location. Your parts guy should be able to print you out a few pics perhaps…

Good luck

-Karl

[lothian]

hmm…
That is a really intuitive thought. And just to validate your notion, it does appear that a more recent iteration of the timing chain cover exists–Hyundai OEM p/n “21351-3C123” supersedes “21351-3C120”.

But here’s the thing…
On Hyundai’s Lambda engines, the timing mark on the crankshaft pulley is strictly for timing reference; it is not fundamental for setting timing in the way that, say, the timing mark is on the Honda J-series’ crankshaft pulley.

Nevertheless, your speculation is probably correct.

The fact that it’ll cost ~$350 for a timing cover/balancer set to get matching timing marks that are not necessary to set engine timing means things under the hood will remain status quo. But methinks it’d be prudent to hang on to that old balancer just to preserve a “known good” reference for aligned timing marks on this engine.

[Rob]

is the same part number stamped on the part itself.. I would check out the dealer and a few auto part stores and see what there part is and if it has the same timming… Im wundering if its just a computer error and its for a diffrent car

[Its me]

Or you could do what Rob781 said… 🙂

Yes, you are right, since we no longer use timing marks with lights like that, it would be a waste of a customers money to charge them for that cover… May confuse the next guy though… LOL

Good luck!

-Karl

[Author]

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