P0017 How do I rotate exhaust cam so the slots line up and stays in that position?

[Rockabetty78]

You need to make sure that your camshafts are lined up, if they aren't then rotate them to the correct positions. the slot on both camshafts should be perfectly horizontal with the surface of the valve cover. after place the locking tool in. put belt on both camshafts and crankshaft, then attempt to rotate the engine by hand, making sure it doesn't lock up at all. if it does, then one or both camshafts are out of time and colliding with the piston heads. do not force it to move as you can end up bending a valve which is even more costly. Camshafts will have some rotation and they will rotate to a position that is not ideal. just rotate the one that flipped out of time till it lines up with the other one

So remove belt to rotate cams till they line up and insert tool into slots. Replace belt then rotate crank. If still locks, rotate cams again. Gonna try this today. Thanks.

 

[Growlith1223]

So remove belt to rotate cams till they line up and insert tool into slots. Replace belt then rotate crank. If still locks, rotate cams again. Gonna try this today. Thanks.

correct, everything should be lined up before and you should have the belt on at all times when manually rotating engine over 360 degrees otherwise you'll smack the valves against the pistons.

You may need a second person to place the locking tool into place while you put tension on the camshafts however

 

[Rockabetty78]

correct, everything should be lined up before and you should have the belt on at all times when manually rotating engine over 360 degrees otherwise you'll smack the valves against the pistons.

You may need a second person to place the locking tool into place while you put tension on the camshafts however

So...what would one do if, let's say, the cams were rotated without the belt on then saw your post literally saying never to do that bc valves smacking pistons???

 

[Rockabetty78]

it should rotate freely if timing is on point without the spark plugs in
if it refuses to move at all, do not force it as you could have timing off and a valve could be colliding with the piston head, forcing it to rotate at that point could bend a valve, which is no bueno!

Try and rotate it the other way and see if does the same thing the other way. i would also make sure that your crank sprocket down below, and the 2 camshafts are actually in line with eachother. the camshafts will be lined up if you can slip the locking tool into place or if you don't have it, there are little teeth poking out at the end where the locking tool goes into, on the exhaust is one lone tooth and on the intake will be a big one with a space and then a moderate sized one, the tooth on the exhaust will line up with that space on the intake side, or just line up the slits manually, if they are almost perfectly flat with each other, it's safe to say they should be lined up.

crank down below has a arrow on both the sprocket and the engine block, line both up and you should be fine. i don't know if it's right to do but you can also rotate the crank counter clockwise as well. don't quote me on this last bit of advice, as i don't know if that will harm anything. it didn't seem to when i had done it though

The crank sprocket is not in line with the cam sprockets. I was gonna put it at tdc so I could work on getting the cams lined up but the crank won't turn at all forward or backwards. If I can't get TDC I can't move on to sync cams.

 

[Rockabetty78]

The crank sprocket is not in line with the cam sprockets. I was gonna put it at tdc so I could work on getting the cams lined up but the crank won't turn at all forward or backwards. If I can't get TDC I can't move on to sync cams.

I've heard several people and watched several videos suggesting I pour Marvel Mystery Oil into each cylinder and let it soak and can possibly help crack the crank loose. Btw, I'm about to upload a pic showing where timing marks on cam sprockets and crank sprocket. Crank shaft timing mark not in line with cams and cam timing marks not in line with each other. Don't line up with each other. Everything's way off.

 

[Rockabetty78]

Can I just go ahead and lineup the cams and ithen worry about breaking that crank loose?

 

[Rockabetty78]

In the second pic, I went ahead and lines up cams.

 

[Rockabetty78]

Happy New Year everyone! I want to thank everyone who has given me advice and support on this forum. Your guidance has truly been invaluable on my mission to repair my car myself. I appreciate you.
Back from a much needed break...was frustrated and desperate and making stupid mistakes, so I had to chill for a bit. I'm back at it and with everyone's great advice and support I have no doubt I WILL FIX MY CAR! Ok, my crankshaft will not turn in either direction and my timing is way off. Pistons are up in cylinders 2 and How's making stupid mistakes out of desperation so I took a break. 3, I checked with a pencil so tdc is not set. Then my tensioner busted. So I had to replace that. In my frustration I took stupid advice and I rotated the cams while the belt was off and instantly regretted it. As I mentioned, crankshaft is stuck so how do I set tdc now? What If I remove the bolts holding the cams, would that allow the vaves to fully seat then i could turn the crank without interference. Are there other ways to set tdc?

 

[ElizabethRC]

It seems like you're encountering issues with the timing alignment and the camshaft positioning. The fact that the camshaft won't stay aligned and keeps popping out of place indicates a problem with the timing chain tension or the camshaft phasing. The "steps" or "lunges" you're feeling when rotating the cams could be a sign of resistance or improper engagement with the timing chain.

Here are a few things to consider:

Check the timing chain tensioner to ensure it's functioning properly and applying adequate tension. Verify that the timing chain guides are in good condition and properly installed. Inspect the camshaft phasers (if your engine has them) to ensure they are functioning correctly and not stuck. Double-check the installation of the timing kit components, ensuring everything is aligned according to the manufacturer's specifications.

If the cams don't rotate freely and there's resistance or inconsistent movement, there may be underlying issues with the timing components or the engine itself. It might be beneficial to consult a professional mechanic or refer to the vehicle's service manual for detailed troubleshooting steps specific to your engine model.