Joined
·
106 Posts
So I've been following the sticky about doing the timing belt, trying to save myself $500 in labor or so. Any way, I have it all taken apart to where I can get at the old belt but I'm running into my own skepticism and would just like to know one basic thing here.
First of all, when I put the new belt on, is it safe for me to start up the engine for a few seconds without putting everything I took off back in, just to make sure that it's installed properly and there's nothing hitting things that shouldn't be hit? It took me a while to get everything out and I want to make sure it's done right. I think this should be OK, the only thing really removed that I could think of that matters is the alternator and the radiator, and if I only run it for a few seconds it shouldn't overheat.
I'll just mention that I got a factory replacement belt, and I know that I'm supposed to line up the lines on the belt with the punch marks on the cam gears and the crank gear and the ones on the engine that they line up with. I just would like to start it up real fast before putting everything else back in if this is possible.
I am fairly confident of my mechanical abilities but I would just like a sanity check here. This is my first time ever doing maintenance this big, and my first time doing a timing belt for any vehicle.
First of all, when I put the new belt on, is it safe for me to start up the engine for a few seconds without putting everything I took off back in, just to make sure that it's installed properly and there's nothing hitting things that shouldn't be hit? It took me a while to get everything out and I want to make sure it's done right. I think this should be OK, the only thing really removed that I could think of that matters is the alternator and the radiator, and if I only run it for a few seconds it shouldn't overheat.
I'll just mention that I got a factory replacement belt, and I know that I'm supposed to line up the lines on the belt with the punch marks on the cam gears and the crank gear and the ones on the engine that they line up with. I just would like to start it up real fast before putting everything else back in if this is possible.
I am fairly confident of my mechanical abilities but I would just like a sanity check here. This is my first time ever doing maintenance this big, and my first time doing a timing belt for any vehicle.