Be careful , when you talk about "service mode" . You are very correct in saying you will not have piston to valve contact. BUT you can absolutely have intake and exhaust valve contact. Set your exhaust cam first, then the intake cam. IAG heat a great tech tip on this. Thanks for the video!

Thanks for the video. I encountered the same situation with a new timing belt (2009 Forester XT Limited). The original belt and marks were also slightly off. I assumed at first the original belt had stretched but the new belt was no different. Up to this point, I had only seen videos of perfectly lined up marks which stressed that importance so I assumed something must be off. However, the teeth count between all the gears was correct and it was clear that if anything was moved even one tooth, it would be worse. After checking and rechecking repeated, I decide it had to be right and applied your “Don't worry, be happy” attitude. Sure enough the car started right up and runs great. When I was a young man working on cars, everything that was “Made in Japan" was considered junk and to be avoided. I had thought this had changed but after dealing with this timing belt and changing the spark plugs, the old memories are coming back.

Thank you for the video. As a fellow perfectionist and mechanic, I really couldn't get my head around how I was always missing. I must have taken the belt off and on three or four times before I saw your video, confirming what I suspected was going on. Coming from working on Volvo and VAG, the timing marks always line up perfect, so this was new to me. But the engine started and ran just fine. Thank you.

Hello, I am from Chile and I have removed the belt about 5 times thinking that the point is wrong, today I left it as you have it and I will start it without gasoline to see what happens, I broke my head thinking that it is wrong but then After watching some videos and yours I convinced myself that it is fine. Thank you very much!!!

1 less anxiety attack, thanks man.

I haven't done a DOHC yet but I appreciate that you took the time to make this video for when I do. Thanks

Vert helpful, I have a 1994 jdm and this was super informational.

Worked at a dealer for 7 years and went to do a DOHC today to help my boss. We had all the marks physically lined up and when we went to turn the crank had piston to valve. Set it off a tooth crank side and it wouldn't run. I wasn't there for take off. So either a valve got hit or I'll try this tomorrow. Great video.

Thanks for the help! Doing this now and took it off and back on about 5 times thinking I was off.

Thanks for this. Helped tremendously

I'm over here doing this job 4 times In a row because they won't line up on a fresh rebuilt EJ255 beating my head against the wall not able to figure this out. Thought it had to be perfect and I got OCD, this video helped a ton!

Thank you so greatly this video gives some stress relief

Thank you mate great vid

Thank you!! i had the same results and I thought i was doing something wrong!! super helpful! thanks bro! CHICKEN GREASE!!! 🤟

Thank you for the video dude! I’ve had issues for months with my timing making my car run like absolute crap. I reset my timing belt last night and the half a tooth out was worrying me. Now, watching your video, the 2nd cylinder inlet cam is half a tooth out PAST the mark on the cover. Will this be alright or does it need to be before the mark?

Good job thanks all so the gravy feed balancer trick was good thanks agen.

This was driving me nuts, thanks you

I appreciate the video. Thanks!

the bottom idler , i always use the double bearing idler not the single one as you have installed as they are less likely to fail

Thanks for the video, my engine is EJ25, forester 2010 just snapped the timing belt on the way to work any chances of nothing bad happened to the engine? My mechanic was able to turn the crankshaft and camshaft with the socket and told to order the kit.

Could engine temperature have anything to do with it? Your engine is cold now, but when you drive and the engine heats up it will expand slightly and stretch the belt.

Helping the future 2024. Thanks

I literally did mine 4 times. I am a mechanic and I haven’t done one since 2015 when I was an apprentice. I tried my best to get it perfect but same issue as here. I did a sohc one literally a week before doing a dohc. I honestly thought i was doing it wrong but I realised it can’t be. Those lines on the belt really help. Great to know I’m not the only one who thought this!

If you line up the driver side cams pointing at each other. And point the passenger side lower cam straight up, the top cam should almost be pointing straight down but to the right a little. What happens when the engine starts its spins clockwise pulling that little bit of half a tooth off into place first. Then it lines up with the others. Then they all spin together. If you have passenger side dead on. You can turn the crank clockwise and watch the top passenger cam move first as its first to be tugged by the belt which is why there's a half tooth of play and it also will stretch over time to the correct position.

I rotated those right side cam gears while it was in "Safe Position". It bent an intake valve and I heard the valve adjuster shim fall out into the valve cover. Pulled it off and the valve wouldn't even return. Had to get a new engine because I didnt use a cam locker on that side. It is not an invincible "Safe Mode", because the intake and exhaust valves can still contact each other regardless of piston position.

Hi, I've got same issue on EJ20K engine, 1996 v3 sti type ra, early type tensioner etc. Lined up everything but the double lines on the LH EX and IN don't line up exactly as the RH EX and IN, when removing and replacing the timing belt do I just line them up or line up as they are now? Thanks in advance

The definitive way to check is there should be 28 teeth between each of marks on the cams. 54.5 teeth between the crank and passenger side intake cam, 51 teeth between the crank and the drivers side intake cam mark.

I'm totally stuck on an EJ20E timing belt kit replacement. .... I can't for the life of me get the new belt on my SOHC. The new Gates tensioner seems to have a higher hydraulic pin even with the hand grenade pin inserted correctly. I've done what Gates said in priming/bleeding the tensioner but I think the 1 or 2 mm that push pin is sitting up is making it impossible to install the new belt. Any advice on how to get around this issue?

Do you follow the timing mark cover or the belt marks itself?

I have 1/2 a tooth more but to the right side could be the problem for no power under load like going in 2 cylinder?

After replacement, I have a compression of only about 5-6 Bar, the engine is running.??? Valve bad?

It all depends on how much they shave when they have done a headgasket job. And if you are not using the stock of thicker headgasket.

I had to pay a garage to do my timing belt and water pump on 1998 Legacy 2.5. It's running rough at idle since the new timing belt. The mechanic says it's because of my driveshaft U-joints, but that doesn't make sense if the car's not moving. I'm thinking about paying a different garage to check he timing.

I don’t recall my car running hot until I changed the timing belt and water pump, so I changed the water pump to an OEM one again, but the car still runs higher that normal, yesterday I took it for a ride and got it up to 90 with AC on car got to 218, I’m wandering if the timing is off, would it even run if it was off

Just did my belt all the marks are lined up , but one is off by maybe a tooth is that bad? Ot started up completely fine but sounds like a little ticking noise but isnt throwing codes or knocking.

Good video, informative. Do yourself a favor put the factory air box with the factory air filter back on your car. Washable/ reusable air filters aren't as efficient.

Hows it going dude, i just did my timing belt on my 07 wrx, ej255. I had the same issue with my timing marks being little on the piss on the right hand cam sprockets, like half a tooth. Anyway, watched this video and it was literally exactly what was going on with me so i decided to run with it. Runs well, maybe better then before. Unfortunately 20 mins in to my test drive it threw a cel. Have you had an experience with this happening?

Does sohc apply to this as well?

😆 this had me scratching my head.

i have a 2000 outback legacy and mines off 3 teeth any help?

Just did the timing belt on my 2006 STI, I have low idle, and occasional low idle misfire, with P0011. But, it runs great under load. Could this be the issue? I have new plugs, new Cam pos Sensor, new avcs solenoid, fresh oil, no banjo filter screens. New PCV valve. Great video by the way.

In bed now I wanna go see if it’s off half a tooth or actually a full tooth

7:04 this part kinda throws your thoery of "stretch belt will line up perfectly" right out the window. Im less than 1/4 tooth off with tensioner tightened. I think im ok

always line up the mark before you take the old belt off, use that as a reference. If the old belt is off the same, you're good. otherwise, not good.

Question? Does it matter if it’s a tooth back or a tooth forward?

When the car comes back for another timing belt 😹

I’ve got a sohc that idles not smooth like before the belt was done. Could it just be a tooth off?

@2:45 He cranks over the engine. For me after the timing belt it wont go. I didnt force it, at all once resistance was felt I stopped. how do i fix this

What if it doesn't start

I thought this was due to the variable timing system?

I’m getting a p0018.. I haven’t pulled my timing cover off yet..

let me know if you can fix my 09 corolla timing

i had this,but i thought it was because i had my heads planed

Cuenta los dientes de la. Vieja. Cadena. Cuenta los dientes distancia de. Cada. Linia a otra linia

When I did it it was damn near perfect then I rotate it and somehow the belt shifted to the right a couple notches all around not sure where I fucked up

BS. The reason it doesn't line up is nothing to do with stretch but because you've just pulled the pin on the tensioner and haven't turned it over to even out the tension across the belt. You could turn it a revolution forward and then turn it back it will line up but I don't like turning engines backwards if I can avoid it. Just line the marks up on the belt and you'll be good. As for the 'service mode' comment, also BS. Sure, withe the crank in that position the valves can't hit the pistons but they sure as hell can hit each other if you go spinning the cam pullies around the wrong way like an incompetent.

Would a tooth off cause a misfire under load?

But i opens up my timingbelt suspecting belt jumped a tooth... And i tried counting belt tooth method... End up i screwed up my timing marks even worse... Now im unsure to continue counting the belt tooth or revert back to my previous timing position.... Anyway im getting p0340 at redline shift..hence im checking my timing marks in the first place

You got the wrong timing belt. No it's not normal