[macca85]

Hey guys, just replaced the water pump on my 1.0 litre Sierra now it wont start! Any ideas on how to check the timing without having the motor running?

Cheers

[royce]

you took the cam belt off? recheck the marks are lined up properly before you do anything else

[gman]

Macca, an easy way to check the timing with out the engine running would be to turn the motor clockwise till No.1 cylinder ( the one at the front of the engine) reaches TDC (top dead centre) the marks on the timing cover and crank pully should line up when No'1 TDC (top dead centre) is reached, you can also find this by feeling the top of the pistion with a screw driver down the spark plug hole. once you've found No.1 TDC take the distributor cap off and have a look roughly where the rotor button is pointing. it should be towards the No1 plug lead.

to check ignition timing, line the timing mark on the crank pully 8 degrees (or what ever a 1 ltr sierra motor is supposed to be) before TDC and have a look at the points under the distributor cap, the point gap should be Just opening as the crank pully reaches its Firing mark on the timing cover.

when lining up timing marks you should always turn the engine clockwise so as to take up the slack of the timing belt and any wear in other components.

the only time you would turn it anticlockwise would be if the engine turned anticlockwise while running like some mid 80's/early 90's Honda 4cyl engines.

[Ben_Sierra]

Ignition timing should not have changed during a pump replacement.

Valve timing would be the issue.

The two cams which the timing belt run around must be in exactly the right position when you put the belt back on, otherwise the valve timing will be out. There should be some handy marks on the pulleys (not sure on the details for a one litre) which should be lined up properly before the timing belt is replaced.

[gman]

Ben_Sierra wrote:

Ignition timing should not have changed during a pump replacement.

Valve timing would be the issue.

The two cams which the timing belt run around must be in exactly the right position when you put the belt back on, otherwise the valve timing will be out. There should be some handy marks on the pulleys (not sure on the details for a one litre) which should be lined up properly before the timing belt is replaced.

Sorry Ben, Your right, the ign timing should be fine compared to the cam, but to me, it's an easy way to check If the timing is out, with out removing to much stuff such as the timing cover. He wanted to learn how to check the timing so I told him.

Like what Royce said the valve time is probably out as the belt should come off to do a pump.

umm and a 1 ltr sierra only has one cam last time I looked and with the dizzy been driven at the back of it. If the cam timing is out so will the Ign timing, so you should check your facts.

[macca85]

Thanks for the help guys will try what you said when its light out.

Cheers

[Ben_Sierra]

gman wrote:

Ben_Sierra wrote:

Ignition timing should not have changed during a pump replacement.

Valve timing would be the issue.

The two cams which the timing belt run around must be in exactly the right position when you put the belt back on, otherwise the valve timing will be out. There should be some handy marks on the pulleys (not sure on the details for a one litre) which should be lined up properly before the timing belt is replaced.

Sorry Ben, Your right, the ign timing should be fine compared to the cam, but to me, it's an easy way to check If the timing is out, with out removing to much stuff such as the timing cover. He wanted to learn how to check the timing so I told him.

Like what Royce said the valve time is probably out as the belt should come off to do a pump.

umm and a 1 ltr sierra only has one cam last time I looked and with the dizzy been driven at the back of it. If the cam timing is out so will the Ign timing, so you should check your facts.

Yes, but if he turns the motor to TDC and sets the ignition timing to that, the the valve timing will still be out, the ignition timing will be out of line with the valve timing and it'll be a horrible mess...

Also - he said "timing", not specifying which timing he was looking at.

But I guess what he really wants is to fix the problem

[DMAC]

Had excactly the same thing happen to me a couple of weeks ago. (Well LTM21 actualy, I had to act as consltant)

Replaced the water pump made etremely sure it didn't move either the crank or cam gears. It went back together 1 tooth out.

I am assuming that because it was left it overnight the valve springs may have moved the cam slightly, letting the belt go on 1 tooth out.

Not sure on the 1 litre but on the 1.3 you have to loosen off all valve adjusters turn the crank over 2 times to set the timing belt tension correctly.

So my learnings are if you do anything that may affect the timing always set it up from the start. Ie. timing marks and dizzy position.