Timing belt off by a bit on driver's side

[2000Subaru2.5RS003]

Hello. Thank you for reading this. I appreciate the responses to my post about dented fins that I messed up with during this process. You're all awesome!

I am doing the timing belt on a 2000 Subaru Impreza SOHC after 13 years (60k miles after last one done at a shop) and everything looked in good condition and the old belt (no idea of brand) looks more substantial than this Aisin one, but I am still a newb to this process. I thought the number of years since the last one would require a change.

After struggling, I got the belt on, but it's not lined up properly on the driver's side. The driver's side sprocket was off a bit after taking the belt off, so I had to turn it to try to line it up with the yellow mark on the belt, but it was under tension and would get close and then turn another 30 degrees or so until I got it as close as I could without spinning -- I did more research and apparently I have to turn the DS sprocket slowly and possibly get someone to hold it in place so everything lines up?

The passenger and middle seem fine, and I don't think I could get it lined up better after trying multiple times, but I could be doing something wrong (flip the belt around?). I didn't pull the pin on the tensioner or rotate the crank yet, so would I rotate it and then check everything again or? The videos made it seem much easier, lol...

Picture 1 (passenger side looks mostly lined up) - https://ibb.co/HBv0sr2

Picture 2 (middle) - https://ibb.co/5vHxNdp

Picture 3 (driver's side that's a bit off) - https://ibb.co/r5F8t1H Does the red mark on the sprocket have to line up with the notch above and the yellow line on the belt?

Pictures before new belt install -- Passenger side https://ibb.co/SwgvTcS

Driver's side https://ibb.co/NjcKwwW

Middle https://ibb.co/k5LvrRW

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[NickVu]

Yeah the driver side looks 1 tooth off. The yellow marks on the belt should line up to the "I" markers cast on the pulley. Looking at the before pics, the marker is over the red line. Redo the belt so the yellow line sits with the red line.

If you're having trouble putting the belt on. Take out the small bottom passenger side idler while you put on the belt and align it. Then put that idler back on last. Be extra careful not to crossthread that last idler.

[2000Subaru2.5RS003]

Originally Posted by NickVu

Yeah the driver side looks 1 tooth off. The yellow marks on the belt should line up to the "I" markers cast on the pulley. Looking at the before pics, the marker is over the red line. Redo the belt so the yellow line sits with the red line.

If you're having trouble putting the belt on. Take out the small bottom passenger side idler while you put on the belt and align it. Then put that idler back on last. Be extra careful not to crossthread that last idler.

Thank you for the reply! I don't want to deal with those tiny pulleys again, but it seems like redoing the belt and trying to line that driver's side sprocket will be happening tomorrow. I can just take the bottom left orange pulley on the passenger side off and then reposition the belt? It's the cogged pulley that was a pain in the butt to install the first time with the belt on. Also, I read that I can get someone to help as I turn the driver's side sprocket slowly so it doesn't spring past the top mark as they hold it with a wrench?

[NickVu]

Leave the cogged one on. With the bottom idler off, there's slightly more wiggle room to push the belt onto the cogged idler/waterpump area. There probably won't be enough slack to rearrange the teeth though.

Yes, if you have a helper it would be easy to have them hold onto the passenger pulley. Main idea is get the upper side tensioned so the lower side has slack to push the belt on.

You have the right idea by clamping the belt to the cam. Probably figure out how to lock the flywheel or jam something in the passenger cam so you could put tension the driver cam.

[2000Subaru2.5RS003]

Originally Posted by NickVu

Leave the cogged one on. With the bottom idler off, there's slightly more wiggle room to push the belt onto the cogged idler/waterpump area. There probably won't be enough slack to rearrange the teeth though.

Yes, if you have a helper it would be easy to have them hold onto the passenger pulley. Main idea is get the upper side tensioned so the lower side has slack to push the belt on.

You have the right idea by clamping the belt to the cam. Probably figure out how to lock the flywheel or jam something in the passenger cam so you could put tension the driver cam.

Thanks! Update: Here is what it looks like now. This is as close as I can get it to lining up. With the driver's side sprocket, if the belt was to move one tooth to the right, it doesn't look like it lines up better, and the middle yellow spot on the belt would no longer match up. If this is no good, it looks like I'll have to call in a mobile mechanic next week.

Pictures driver's side - https://ibb.co/SPqyqBY
https://ibb.co/G3N3LYt
https://ibb.co/NTvnrht

Other spots - https://ibb.co/RYKpd71

https://ibb.co/Sc4R4pG

[Elbert Bass]

Originally Posted by 2000Subaru2.5RS003

Thanks! Update: Here is what it looks like now. This is as close as I can get it to lining up. With the driver's side sprocket, if the belt was to move one tooth to the right, it doesn't look like it lines up better, and the middle yellow spot on the belt would no longer match up. If this is no good, it looks like I'll have to call in a mobile mechanic on Monday.

Picture driver's side - https://ibb.co/NTvnrht

Other spots - https://ibb.co/RYKpd71

https://ibb.co/Sc4R4pG

Oblique angle pix don't help. It appears your marks on the belt are aligned with marks on sprockets, if the arrows on the belt point towards driver side you are good to go. Pull the tensioner pin and turn the crankshaft two rotations clockwise. Then realign the crankshaft mark and verify the cam alignment. BTW: the belt marks will not line up with sprockets after this, only the marks on the engine. Also that crankshaft mark is the notch on the crank sensor bracket - it is not exactly at 12 o'clock.

[2000Subaru2.5RS003]

Originally Posted by Elbert Bass

Oblique angle pix don't help. It appears your marks on the belt are aligned with marks on sprockets, if the arrows on the belt point towards driver side you are good to go. Pull the tensioner pin and turn the crankshaft two rotations clockwise. Then realign the crankshaft mark and verify the cam alignment. BTW: the belt marks will not line up with sprockets after this, only the marks on the engine. Also that crankshaft mark is the notch on the crank sensor bracket - it is not exactly at 12 o'clock.

Thank you for the reply! Here are 2 possible better pictures of the driver's side. Still looks a bit iffy? But it's as close as I can get it to lining up all 3 yellow timing marks after trying a few times.
https://ibb.co/SPqyqBY

https://ibb.co/G3N3LYt

The belt didn't have arrows on it, but I placed it so I can read the name of the manufacturer.

[Elbert Bass]

Originally Posted by 2000Subaru2.5RS003

Thank you for the reply! Here are 2 possible better pictures of the driver's side. Still looks a bit iffy? But it's as close as I can get it to lining up all 3 yellow timing marks after trying a few times.
https://ibb.co/SPqyqBY

https://ibb.co/G3N3LYt

The belt didn't have arrows on it, but I placed it so I can read the name of the manufacturer.

That belt is not on the water pump in that picture.
YOU NEED THE BELT TO HAVE TENSION between the two cam sprockets across the top to verify timing. Install the belt fully. Do not pull pin in tensioner. Turn that drivers side cam with a socket or wrench slightly until that cam's marks line up. Verify the crank and passenger side cams line up on mark.

[2000Subaru2.5RS003]

Originally Posted by Elbert Bass

That belt is not on the water pump in that picture.
YOU NEED THE BELT TO HAVE TENSION between the two cam sprockets across the top to verify timing. Install the belt fully. Do not pull pin in tensioner. Turn that drivers side cam with a socket or wrench slightly until that cam's marks line up. Verify the crank and passenger side cams line up on mark.

Hello. I had previously installed it fully and had a similar issue with the yellow timing marks, so I tried to set it up again just at the top sprockets and center with one pulley and tensioner on top to see if it lines up and clamp it before continuing. I can try to install the belt fully again and then wrench the DS sprocket slightly and see if that makes a difference but getting that yellow mark wasn't working previously on the DS. It looks like I will probably call a mobile mechanic next week. Thank you for your replies!

[Charlie-III]

When I install Subaru timing belts, I start at the crank and go CCW (counter clockwise) through everything. This allows you to work off a fixed point (crank) and then pull on the belt as you thread it around.
Most of the Subaru TB's I do are DOHC, so, a bit harder.

A trick can be to use a small wood wedge between the timing belt and the guard over it at the crank.

[2000Subaru2.5RS003]

Originally Posted by Charlie-III

When I install Subaru timing belts, I start at the crank and go CCW (counter clockwise) through everything. This allows you to work off a fixed point (crank) and then pull on the belt as you thread it around.
Most of the Subaru TB's I do are DOHC, so, a bit harder.

A trick can be to use a small wood wedge between the timing belt and the guard over it at the crank.

Hello. Thank you for the reply. I can probably try one more time starting CCW from the fixed point and put the whole belt around all the pulleys this time.

[Elbert Bass]

Originally Posted by 2000Subaru2.5RS003

Hello. I had previously installed it fully and had a similar issue with the yellow timing marks, so I tried to set it up again just at the top sprockets and center with one pulley and tensioner on top to see if it lines up and clamp it before continuing. I can try to install the belt fully again and then wrench the DS sprocket slightly and see if that makes a difference but getting that yellow mark wasn't working previously on the DS. It looks like I will probably call a mobile mechanic next week. Thank you for your replies!

Just curious - what brand belt are you using?

[Charlie-III]

Originally Posted by 2000Subaru2.5RS003

Hello. Thank you for the reply. I can probably try one more time starting CCW from the fixed point and put the whole belt around all the pulleys this time.

One quick comment on using a belt with the marks printed on it, you get everything lined up, pull the tensioner pin, then crank it by hand 2 full rotations of the crank and find.....the printed marks don't line up but the marks on crank and cams do.
This is normal.
Don't get excited.
Just make sure the cam and crank marks line up.

[2000Subaru2.5RS003]

Originally Posted by Elbert Bass

Just curious - what brand belt are you using?

Hello. It's the one that came in the Aisin kit -- Mitsuboshi

[2000Subaru2.5RS003]

Originally Posted by Charlie-III

One quick comment on using a belt with the marks printed on it, you get everything lined up, pull the tensioner pin, then crank it by hand 2 full rotations of the crank and find.....the printed marks don't line up but the marks on crank and cams do.
This is normal.
Don't get excited.
Just make sure the cam and crank marks line up.

Hello. I decided to count the teeth on the belt and came up with 47 on the passenger side and between 43-44 on the driver's side with the 2.5 SOHC engine on this 2000 Subaru. I rotated it twice over and it lined back up as in the pictures.

Current pictures with that teeth count - PS https://ibb.co/DCcLgKy DS - https://ibb.co/rbnVbrn