Marks marks to look at for timing belt?

[michaelmiller85]

I have ordered a service manual but hasn't arrived and am in very much needing to replace the timing belt. What is the procedure as for as having cylinder #1 on tdc. Does it need to be on the compression stroke on TDC?

What marks should i be looking for on the crank and cam and where should they be aligned/pointing to?

THanks for all the help.

Tried to search the forums but couldn't find exactly what i needed.

Michael

[michaelmiller85]

Plus, do I have to take off the main crank bolt with a 21mm wrench. I tried and couldn't get that bolt out.

Any tips?

Michael

[Lmcclure]

here you go, just line up the marks tighten the tensioner and GO

[Lmcclure]

and no on the crank it has 4 10mm bolts around the big center bolt, just take those 4 out and the pully comes off leaving the timing gear firmly in place

[walth]

http://www.fordfestiva.com/forums/showthread.php?t=36148

that thread I posted is a good read

[TominMO]

and no on the crank it has 4 10mm bolts around the big center bolt, just take those 4 out and the pully comes off leaving the timing gear firmly in place

On my Aspire w/AC, I had to remove the crank bolt, because the deep-dish AC pulley wouldn't come out otherwise--the bolt head kept it trapped in there, due to very little clearance with the frame. If I didn't have AC, then just removing the four 10mm bolts would have worked.

I got the crank bolt off by jamming a prybar in the flywheel teeth. Did the same to tighten it, so I could use my torque wrench on the crank bolt.

[walth]

you can also bump the starter to break it free, using the ground to act as a pivot. but not so much for tightening.

[michaelmiller85]

Would it be a good idea to go ahead and replace the front main seal while I have everything off? Would this require removing the crank bolt?

[TominMO]

Would it be a good idea to go ahead and replace the front main seal while I have everything off? Would this require removing the crank bolt?

Yes, replace the front crank seal. The bolt needs to come off to get the lower timing belt sprocket off, so you can get at the seal.

Might as well replace the camshaft seal too, while you're at it.

[michaelmiller85]

Pulled the pulley off on the crank but it looks like the crank bolt is preventing me from getting to be able to take the belt off, unless i dropped the oil pan.