Did My Timing Belt Slip? (With Image!)

[85L200Express]

My Triton has been having issues as I've explained in other threads, running bad, no low end power and then finally dying.

I managed to check codes and it gave me 12 - Air Flow Sensor, 22 - Crankshaft Position Sensor Fault, 23 Camshaft Position Sensor Fault.

I removed the camshaft sensor and one of the screw tabs broke or was broken already. I cleaned it with electrical contact cleaner and put it back on - no improvement.

I got a second hand air flow sensor from the wreckers and put that in and it started and ran for around 3 mins, began to backfire and stalled. I then checked for codes and the only code showing was now 22 - Crankshaft Sensor.

I've also removed the top timing belt cover to get to the camshaft sensor and saw the belt with a painted mark one tooth down from the timing mark on the cam.



What do you reckon from this image? Did the timing belt slip? I guess the only real way to check is to take the cover completely off and see if it lines up? Do I just turn the cam wheel by hand with a socket? If so, which way is safe?

[bundyjr]

belts jumping teeth is possible if not fitted correctly. was this your first attempt at fitting a timing belt.?

[85L200Express]

I haven't changed it yet... am going to this coming week.

[geopaj]

From the above photo I'd say it's impossible to say if the timing belt has jumped teeth. Is the mark on the belt the top or bottom alignment mark? Have you rotated the engine to see if there's a second alignment mark on the belt (the alignment mark in the photo could be for the bottom gear, with the top gear alignment mark hidden in the timing case).

[erad]

My fading memory of 6G74 timing belts tells me that the pulley notch you have highlighted with the mark on the belt should line up with a V notch at the rear of the pulley, somewhere nearer the top of the pulley rather than way down the side as in your photo. I don't see the V notch in the photo. Was the crankshaft at TDC when you took the photo? If it was, I think you have problems, although if the belt has slipped I would expect that the pulley notch would be the other side of the cam centreline.

[Just Cruzin]

Any timing marks on belts and pulleys are irrelevant unless you can see all 3 at the same time.
I could move that mark on the belt 10 teeth out and still get the pulley marks to line up.
There is an inspection cover on each head, then TDC on the crank.

[85L200Express]

Thanks for the replies guys.

Can I turn the engine by hand while the spark plugs are still in, in order to try and line up the timing marks, or will the pressure be too great?

[Gen3]

you can turn the engine over using a long breaker bar , this must be done in a clockwise direction only. with enough force you can overcome the compression.
winding the engine backwards ( anti clockwise ) will cause the belt to jump teeth.

[Ent]

I noticed in researching OBD2 tools there is apparently an error code generated if a belt jumps. That is my sum total of knowledge but maybe something like a Scangauge can pick this up?

[Just Cruzin]

I noticed in researching OBD2 tools there is apparently an error code generated if a belt jumps. That is my sum total of knowledge but maybe something like a Scangauge can pick this up?

That would be fine except they don't use the OBD2 protocol.

[Ent]

Reading back to OP found codes have been checked with camshaft position code found. Teach me to read the complete thread.