2000 3.0 timing belt issues.
 

well i have been working on my brother car changing out the timing belt and water pump for him today, but i ran into a a couple snags you guys my be able to help me with. Well for one when I took the timing belt off i forgot to set the motor at TDC, so what is the easiest way to find that everything is in order with each other. My second problem, well i just wanted to see if i could even get the belt on and it seems to always come short. The only way i could get the belt on is if i took the hydraulic tensioner off and pushed the pulley all the way up. But once i did that i could not get the hydraulic tensioner back on since i couldn't push the pulley far enough to get it back on. Its almost like the the belt is to short. I just want to see if any of you guys had/having any problem i am experiencing.

stupid question here but did u compress the tensioner?

Yes and I have the pin in while I'm trying to install it. Should the belt be easy to go on?

The belts are normally very "TIGHT" going on.....

There have been 2 occassions where I got an "Aftermarket Belt" that was indeed too short......

There is an arrow at the crank sprocket, an arrow on the block, and notches in either side of the cam rear covers...

Just a quick hint....start the belt opposite the tensioner...and finish with all of the slack above the tensioner...Test fitting the belt without the marks lined up is next to impossible.

when you say notches you mean those little v shaped thing in the metal cover? and i do believe this belt is too short. I mean theres no way this belt is the right length.

???? just want t o confirm that im looking at the right notches.

yep........

Don't forget to put the crank at TDC as well as the camshaft at the notches.

Ok thanks alot guys.

Ok the crank seems to have a dot on the sprocket, but it doesnt seem to have anything to line that dot up with. Im looking on the inside block and out side and it doesnt seem to any other markings. Were should i be looking?