K So I changed the timing belt today and have a couple questions Options

[xxgetbackupxx]

K so after I was done and started up the car the timing belt moved left (passenger side) from the center of both cogs. I freaked out thinking it was gonna fall off but held. It is off the sproket and cam just a little bit but holding on. Why is this happening? Even when I move it back a few times it keeps going to that spot. Also I don`t have the little metal piece in front of the timing belt cause the old one got damaged. kinda looks like my belt is vibrating a little, but the car runs fine no ruff idle nor misfiring or anything at all, runs like it always has. Maybe I`m overthinking it all? Advice would help thanks d=-)

[RabidTRD]

Did you only replace the belt? Replace the tensioner pulley and the idler pulley as well. Sounds like one of those may be loose/damaged and causing the belt to go off track. My belt has always stayed dead center, so that would concern me.

Also, what engine are we talking about?

[xxgetbackupxx]

Did you only replace the belt? Replace the tensioner pulley and the idler pulley as well. Sounds like one of those may be loose/damaged and causing the belt to go off track. My belt has always stayed dead center, so that would concern me.

Also, what engine are we talking about?

its a 7afe.... its working perfectly fine... drove home no sweat... its not like hanging off the side its just a tad bit off.... maybe I shifted the cam alittle when I put it back on... the tensioner is fine keeping a great tension.... not sure why it went off a bit... maybe I need the little metal space deal to keep it centered... duno....

[mkernz22]

Did you replace the tensioners or leave the old ones in there?

[xxgetbackupxx]

Did you replace the tensioners or leave the old ones in there?

No I didn`t... didn`t see anything wrong with it... but I will buy a new one after work tomorrow and I`ll get back at it sometime this week...uh finding time is a pain sometimes! even though its getting alot quicker for me to take off and put on d=-)

[Special_Edy]

Its a non-interference motor. Worst case is that the timing belt breaks and you have to change it on the side of the road, which is easy on the 7a

[xxgetbackupxx]

Its a non-interference motor. Worst case is that the timing belt breaks and you have to change it on the side of the road, which is easy on the 7a

Haha...isn't that the truth! Love this car...so the belt breaks, engine shuts off u line it up and out a new one on?

[mkernz22]

You have a lot to learn about cars I see. Whenever you do a timing belt, you want to change the water pump, idler pulley and tensioner pulley too. It's just a common thing to do while you're in there because you never know when one of those things will go.

[xxgetbackupxx]

You have a lot to learn about cars I see. Whenever you do a timing belt, you want to change the water pump, idler pulley and tensioner pulley too. It's just a common thing to do while you're in there because you never know when one of those things will go.

Yes i am learning. I don't replace water pump cause it got life timer warranty...it goes i get s free one. Didn't know about the pulleys really. Now u said the tensioner and the idle pulley. I obviously know where the tensioner is but where's the idle Pulley is that the one that tensions that does the AC,crank belt?

[Syaoran]

The water pump isn't something you want to have "go" on you... it can pretty much cause damage to your engine if it stops working.

Lifetime warranty or not, you should replace it every other t-belt job (80k miles is a good interval if you're using a quality pump such as OEM or Aisin)

[xxgetbackupxx]

The water pump isn't something you want to have "go" on you... it can pretty much cause damage to your engine if it stops working.

Lifetime warranty or not, you should replace it every other t-belt job (80k miles is a good interval if you're using a quality pump such as OEM or Aisin)

It was replaced last timing belt change... now since it has a lifetime warranty... do i just take it back and get another next belt change?

[Special_Edy]

The water pump isn't something you want to have "go" on you... it can pretty much cause damage to your engine if it stops working.

Lifetime warranty or not, you should replace it every other t-belt job (80k miles is a good interval if you're using a quality pump such as OEM or Aisin)

It was replaced last timing belt change... now since it has a lifetime warranty... do i just take it back and get another next belt change?

Yes, warranty out the pump, tell them its bad and that you need to buy a timing belt since you had to remove the pump.
Water pumps dont fail catastrophically. Its basically a plate of cast aluminum with a bearing and a seal pressed into it. A shaft with an impeller on one end and a cam sprocket on the other end rides inside this bearing. Usually the bearing and or seal go out and start to leak. Coolant will leak out of the weep hole and the bearing can squeel really loud.
It can be inconvenient to change the water pump because its so difficult to remove/install the timing components on some engines like the 5S-FE, so its basically insurance vs calculated risk. I personally change out the water pump and timing belt together, but its borderline silly for someone to replace a perfectly good waterpump when they dont risk having to pay the +$500 bill for a shop to do it cause they can do it themselves.
Anyways, that what I think.

[soulshadow]

You need that timing belt metal retainer that sits on the crankshaft in front of the belt. It is a guarantee that your belt will track off at high rpms and if it slips off the crank say goodbye to most of your engine parts considering how it will lodge itself to whatever catches it. They made it for a reason and that's to prevent the belt from slipping off!

[xxgetbackupxx]

****UPDATE***

Just would like everyone to know I changed the tensioner, the spring and input the metal belt guide and we are good to go! Thanks guys for all your help d=-)