I'm looking for some expert advice. My 99 Legacy is way overdue for a timing belt. I bought a belt and just got the job disassembled but the cam pulley and crank markings are different than what my Chiltons describes. I've never done a Subaru before so I'm trying to be careful here. The book describes notches for the crank and pulleys. Anyhow, could you take a look at these photos and let me know if I have it right.
* The first one shows the crank at #1 TDC;
* The second is the crank with its white dot lined up with a mark on a little protrusion on the intake.
* The third is the left pulley with its mark lined up on some yellow paint on a very rough plastic cover;
* The fourth is the right pulley lined up with that little mark on the head that I drew the arrow to.
A follow up question: What would be wrong with setting #1 at TDC, taking off the old belt and without moving the crank or cams, slipping a new belt on?
Thanks.
jor <br> <br> <br>
When putting a new belt on, don't use the arrow on the crank pulley. Use the other marking, it looks like the white dot is marking it. Also, take the belt cover off over the crank pulley (it has 2 bolts holding it, take a visual picture to help with knowing the spacing when putting it back on) After that is off you will see there will be another mark to help you allign (it's on the teeth that the crank sensor uses).
The cams are lined up just fine. When you take the belt off the driver's side will most likely turn. I found it helped to put a socket/rachet to help control the movement (if you use your hands... wear gloves). If you move it slow enough you can get it to balance where the markings line up. Becareful though, a small movement will make it spin and it can pinch fingers, nuckles, and such.
The new belt should have markings on it so you can make sure you have proper spacing. If not I can check my haynes for the teeth count.
As to your follow up question it's fine. It doesn't matter how you take the belt off if nothing moves before you put the new belt on. It's like the belt was never taken off. Just make sure to tripple check the allignment once the new belt is on. It would be very easy for things to move a tooth while putting the new belt on.
I found it easiest when doing mine to take the bottom (smooth roller pulley) off (the bottom left red one in your first picture). Once that one is off, remove the belt... put the new belt on, then put that pulley on (use a socker with an extenstion on the bolt to help get it threaded, JUST MAKE SURE NOT TO CROSS THREAD IT). Make sure to retract the idle tensioner (easy to do before the old belt is taken off) and put a pin in it to keep it retracted until the new belt is on.
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Thanks for the info. I wish I had the right manual for this thing. I was able to get a Haynes 90-98 but the auto parts store advised me that there was not 1999 Haynes manual for the Legacy. Anyhow, I just looked at the belt I got and it does have the marks on it you mentioned so I'm feeling good about that. I'll take off the little belt cover and expose the marking. That will make me feel a LOT better. I wish the cam pulleys had more definite markings. So, if my crank gear is lined up properly now and my cam pulleys look good (should be fine as the car was running well), then I'll go ahead. Thanks again for the advice.
Not sure what happened to my other three photos. Seemed to have vanished!
jor (Tucson, AZ)
If you have any more questions post them up. I'll be on here all night. Everything is from memory and I don't have a very good memory so some small stuff might be a little off (the more I think of it there might not be another mark on the teeth of the crank pulley for the sensor) But just don't use the arrow and you'll be good.
I actually didn't know they used the 2.2 up to 99. that's pretty cool. I like the 2.2. I did head gaskets on a 2.5 a few months ago and it was the same as you're pictures. that's the nice thing about subaru. That manual you have for the 90-98 will cover all of your questions for your 99 (I'm 95% sure anyway, it's the same manual I have).
Last edited by subydaddy on Wed Feb 23, 2011 3:18 pm, edited 1 time in total.
04 Impreza WRX Sedan - Sold
06 Impreza 2.5i Wagon - Sold
92 Legacy SS Sedan - Sold
94 Legacy L Wagon
02 Rendezvous CXL
91 Legacy L Sedan FWD
Did you buy a Subaru timing belt? If so, the belt has marks on it that line up with the marks on the timing gear & pullies. Just align the marks and you'll be golden.
If the belt you bought does not have marks, you can count the teeth and put the marks on yourself. Here's the Subaru factory manual for the 99 Legacy. It should come in handy.
Unzip the file, and in the engine section, SOHC section, go to the file, MSA5TCD99L37.pdf It will have all the info you need and list the teeth between each mark. Simply count, mark on the back of the belt, and count again to verify. That should help you out when doing the t-belt.
subydaddy wrote:If you have any more questions post them up. I'll be on here all night. Everything is from memory and I don't have a very good memory so some small stuff might be a little off (the more I think of it there might not be another mark on the teeth of the crank pulley for the sensor) But just don't use the arrow and you'll be good.
I actually didn't know they used the 2.2 up to 99. that's pretty cool. I like the 2.2. I did head gaskets on a 2.5 a few months and it was the same as you're pictures. that's the nice thing about subaru. That manual you have for the 90-98 will cover all of your questions for your 99 (I'm 95% sure anyway, it's the same manual I have).
On the bright side with your engine being a 2.2 its a non interference.
1997+ 2.2L became interference so be careful. The EJ22 received some changes differing from the earlier EJ22s, one being that it became interference. They changed around the internals, raised compression ratio and power and torque output.
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Jessekrs123 wrote:1997+ 2.2L became interference so be careful. The EJ22 received some changes differing from the earlier EJ22s, one being that it became interference. They changed around the internals, raised compression ratio and power and torque output.
Good to know, I'll edit my post.
Thanks for pointing that out.
04 Impreza WRX Sedan - Sold
06 Impreza 2.5i Wagon - Sold
92 Legacy SS Sedan - Sold
94 Legacy L Wagon
02 Rendezvous CXL
91 Legacy L Sedan FWD
Josh,
Thanks a million for the manual. I didn't buy my belt from Subaru but it did come with the marks. I installed the belt but now I'm waiting for a timing cover gasket set from Subaru as I had only about 1/3 left of mine. I thought about silicone, but only fleetingly... Anyhow, it's supposed to arrive Friday or Monday so as soon as it does, I should be able to complete this job and get that thing back on the road. I didn't know the 2.2 had changed to interference - good to know. I'm waiting for the fsm to d/l now. I'm interested to know about the differences between it and my Chiltons. For example, the tooth count indicated in the Chiltons is different than what I have. Thanks again.
jor
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