bredsticz said:

Ahh shamballs!! Started her up again and sounds bit like a knock! She starts though so is she 360 degrees out? or what! Argh i hate this damn thing! didn't dare drive her. Is it possible I've bent/dented the pistons?

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Doh, you can't be 360 degrees out, thats back where you started.

180 degrees out and there will be flames coming out the TB

Cheers

SPD

Fun so maybe I'm only 1 or 2 teeth out? and i was told 360 degrees out is if the crankshaft needs turning one full more rotation because that turns twice for every once the cam rotates?? I was told that was 360 degrees out anyway, So you think it may only be a few teeth out? If so I just gotta figure out which way.
Also still could i have damaged the valves or cylinders?

bredsticz said:

Fun so maybe I'm only 1 or 2 teeth out? and i was told 360 degrees out is if the crankshaft needs turning one full more rotation because that turns twice for every once the cam rotates?? I was told that was 360 degrees out anyway, So you think it may only be a few teeth out? If so I just gotta figure out which way.
Also still could i have damaged the valves or cylinders?

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I'd call that 180 degrees out. You shouldn't have damaged the valves, but it seems that everything is possible.

Cheers

SPD

Good news!! Found the cause of the noise! Alternator pulley only had 2 bolts in and they weren't tight! Thats right I'm a complete dip****! 3rd bolt got a bit bent! Engine running smoothly so I presume timing is ok BUT she isn't starting 1st time, Always she has started on 1st turn of the key, 1st crank and she's going even on the coldest morning but she won't start on 1st turn of the key and then second attempt it takes a few seconds, that timing related or have a fooked something else up? Thank you all who helped, you've been great even if it took a while to explain simple things to me, and sorry for hijacking the thread! Just glad I know she's running ok (still need the leak fixed mind you )

L2wis...i'm bit strapped for time right now mate but here goes...

I used axle stands under the front simply to save my back lol and a small trolley jack (wooden block also) to support the engine under the sump.

I used a long screwdriver down the plug hole of cyl number one to determine top dead center rather than the marks which are so hard to see. Just rock the crank pulley forwards and backwards over and over until the screwdriver shows you where the top is.

New belt will have timing marks on it and a directional arrow. Line up the belt so that the lower mark is alongside the mark on the oil pump (top dead center as above) and slip belt over the whole rig and make sure the cam pulley/sprocket lines up at the second mark on the belt. Its much easier to do it this way due to very hard to see marks IMHO.

When it comes to the belt tension...like others have said its a bit hard to describe but its no where near as tight as you'll think it should be. Also, daft as it sounds you'll know its too tight if it hums when you run the motor. Mine didn't hum at first but did do once the engine was hot because (honestly lol) the motor grows taller very slightly and tensions the belt that little bit more.

So..be prepared to have to back off the belt tension a couple of times until its not slack but will not hum/hiss when it runs with hot engine. (even Fiat tech said to me thats all they do).

Lastly...watch how tight you do up the top mount bolts as the go into an aluminium head that is surprisingly delicate. Maybe consider a dab of threadlock on each bolt and go steady on the ratchet.

Good luck mate, if you where nearer i'd come and help

Edit...thought i'd read Manchester as where you lived. If you near Hull gimee a shout

@bredsticz: All the info that's gone into this thread is sure to help me so don't worry about thread hijacking haha!

@shaun200765: Thanks for your input dude! Good to know an alternative method of lining up the timing, if i use a combination of both hopefully i'll have less chance of messing it up!

I'm not 100% on finding TDC yet but i'm sure i'll understand it more when i do some more googling and reading my haynes again. Plus when i actually come to do it hopefully it'll all add up. Will my old belt also have a direction arrow on it? As i've no idea which way it rotates yet.

Some one on this thread also suggested before taking the old belt off feel the tension in that to get an idea of what to aim for which cetainly makes sense to me!

All good advice thou thanks guys!

yeah, best way to test tension is to twist it, see how far you can twist it round also if you stand at the passenger wing at the side of the bonnet looking in, the camshaft sprocket ( very top one) will turn clockwise!

bredsticz said:

yeah, best way to test tension is to twist it, see how far you can twist it round also if you stand at the passenger wing at the side of the bonnet looking in, the camshaft sprocket ( very top one) will turn clockwise!

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just to clarify, if i'm looking at the camshaft sprocket face on (from the drivers wing side it turns anti-clockwise?

yeah, facing straight on so the actual engine block is behind it and the far end of the bonnet is the gearbox side (hope that makes sense)

Hey all! I thought i'd update this thread with todays goings on!

I got all the car apart to change the cam belt all apart from taking off the crankshaft sproket (the big one for the alternator). However I decided i didn't need to do it after all!

The belt had no fiat branding on it and looked like new!? I had a friend of mine to come round and have a look too and he said there wasn't any sign of tooth wear on the belt either! At this point i thought meh, lets do it anyway! But then when lining up the new belt we realised it was the wrong belt!!! (there was not enough teeth on the belt/gaps between teeth was too far apart) The belt also looked marginly thinner.

However i'm almost certain this service had been done in the past so quite happy to leave it all inplace.

On the positive side though the gargling/sloshing noise has now gone (replaced and bled the coolent) and my alternator belt no longer squeels (tightened the f*#ker up lol).

It was good to learn where everything goes however! I spotted the markings on the camshaft sproket just fine too.

Next week cam cover gasket replacment and oil change along with new oil filter and spark plugs.

Edit: I forgot to mention! I did have one 'disaster', one of the upper timing belt cover bolts sheared off It was well rusty and had a feeling it was going too.. However the cover is on very snug without it.

lol well done! Glad it all went well. You never need to take the crankshaft sprocket off just to change the belt!
Same thing happened with me when front bolt sheared off.
And lucky you having markings! Think one of mine is the unlucky ones the haynes mentions about!