When is timing adjustment needed?

[nico27004]

I know on newer cars you don’t adjust the timing. I wanted to know if I do something like change a timing belt or chain would I have to adjust the timing? and would I have to put the engine at tic or is that only really needed if I have to take the distributor off?

Topic

[teambadguys]

Timing needs to NOT be adjusted when you change the timing belt.

Make sure the 1st piston is at top dead center and the alignment marks are dead on.

change the water pump while you

[Matt]

[quote]Quoted From teambadguys:

Timing needs to NOT be adjusted when you change the timing belt.

Make sure the 1st piston is at top dead center and the alignment marks are dead on.

change the water pump while you

[nico27004]

thanks. so is timing really only adjusted if i need to take the distributor out?

[Matt]

Uh, what year/make/model/engine are we talking about here? Guess I should’ve asked that first. If you don’t loosen the distributor, then most likely you shouldn’t have to adjust timing, although it’s usually not a terribly big ordeal with a $20 timing light.

[Trcustoms719]

Yeah, you should not have to adjust timing if you did not mess with the distributor as beefy said.
Your ignition timing should be fine.

[nico27004]

thanks. i was thinking about doing the timing chain on a 1994 gmc sierra 2500

[Matt]

The only thing might be that if the chain is extremely stretched in that truck if it’s very high mileage, you might need to set the timing to correct for a new chain. Without knowing the service history, the timing might have been adjusted at some point to correct for the slack. Why are you replacing it?

[3SheetsDiesel]

I’ve never seen a GM truck engine with a stretched timing chain, regardless of mileage. It’s just one of those things that never wears out. Any particular reason you want to replace it?

[nico27004]

i have had a couple friends break theirs and i was going to do water pump and power steering figured i may as well lol. plus its got high miles

[dreamer2355]

If you go ahead and service the timing chain, just make sure your at TDC before removing it, then after the new chain is installed, rotate the crankshaft two revolutions and make sure the timing marks line up.

You could always look up some service information to see what the specifications are on timing chain tension/slack.

[nico27004]

so do you always have to turn the engine over two revolutions after you are done?

[Mike]

No…but it is a good idea…its a way of double checking your work.

[teambadguys]

Quoted From Beefy:

For not being an expert, you pretty much nailed it. I would add that you want to make sure your tensioner(s) are good, or just replace them while you’re in there.

I had bad luck getting this explained in my other thread. I was wondering if anyone knew anything about timing belt tensioning.

In this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AoJcAS58CHg Eric tensions the belt with more slack on one side than the other.

I just think this seems extremely counterintuitive. Anyone care to explain?

[EricTheCarGuy]

[quote][b]

[nico27004]

thanks everyone. i think i have a better understanding of what to do.

[Author]

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