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For 1990-2009 cars only
Makes 🢒 Cadillac 🢒 1998 🢒 Catera 🢒 Engine 🢒 Engine Mechanical - 3.0L 🢒 Timing Belt Timing Adjustment

Timing Belt Adjustment Checking

Tools Required

    • J 42069 Timing Belt Alignment Kit
    • J 42098 Crank Hub Torx Socket

Important: The following steps are the continuation of Timing Belt Replacement and must not be performed as a stand-alone operation.

It may take several repeated adjustments and engine revolutions to achieve the proper timing belt alignment set points.

Important: If timing belt adjustment is necessary, always start with camshafts 3 and 4.

  1. Apply the J 42069-20 Checking Gauge to camshaft gears 3 and 4.
  2. Inspect the relationship of the marks on the camshaft gears to the marks on the J 42069-20 Checking Gauge. They must match exactly, if not, timing belt adjustment is required.
  3. Apply the J 42069-20 Checking Gauge to camshaft gears 1 and 2.
  4. Inspect the relationship of the marks on the camshaft gears to the marks on the J 42069-20 Checking Gauge. They must match exactly, if not, timing belt adjustment is required.
  5. Continue to the next applicable procedure:

Marks on Camshaft Gears 3 and 4 Align to the LEFT of J 42069-20
  1. Loosen the timing belt idler pulley for camshaft gears 3 & 4.

    2. Object Number: 158980 Size: LH
  2. Use the J 42069-40 Adjustment Wrench to turn eccentric on the idler pulley COUNTERCLOCKWISE until the marks on the camshaft gears and on the J 42069-20 Checking Gauge are in alignment (the high point of the idler pulley eccentric will be in approximately the 12 o'clock position).

    3. Tighten
    Tighten the timing belt idler pulley bolt, while holding the eccentric in place with the J 42069-40 Adjustment Wrench to prevent movement, to 40 N·m (30 lb ft).

  3. Remove the J 42069-10 Crankshaft Locking Tool and the J 42069-20 Checking Gauge.
  4. Turn the crankshaft in the engine rotational direction two revolutions with the J 42098 Crank Hub Torx Socket. Stop at 60 degrees BTDC.
  5. Install the J 42069-10 Crankshaft Locking Tool to the crankshaft drive gear with the knurled bolt.
  6. Use the J 42098 Crank Hub Torx Socket to carefully turn the crankshaft until the lever of the J 42069-10 firmly contacts the water pump pulley flange.
  7. Secure the moveable lever of the tool to the water pump pulley flange.
  8. Install the J 42069-20 Checking Gauge to camshaft gears 3 & 4.
  9. Inspect the alignment of the marks on the camshaft gears in reference to the marks on the J 42069-20 Checking Gauge.
  10. Repeat the procedure again if the marks do not align.
  11. If camshaft gears 3 and 4 are properly aligned, continue checking the timing belt adjustment of camshaft gears 1 & 2. Make necessary corrections as outlined further on in this section.
  12. AFTER all applicable camshaft gear adjustments are made, set the final timing belt tensioner as outlined in Timing Belt Tensioner Adjustment at the end of this procedure.

Marks on Camshaft Gears 3 and 4 Align to the RIGHT of J 42069-20
  1. Loosen the timing belt idler pulley for camshaft gears 3 & 4.

    2. Object Number: 158984 Size: LH
  2. Slacken the timing belt by turning the eccentric on the idler pulley CLOCKWISE with the J 42069-40 Adjustment Wrench until the marks on the camshaft gears and the marks on the J 42069-20 Checking Gauge are in alignment (the high point of the idler pulley eccentric will be in approximately the 12 o'clock position).

    3. Tighten
    Tighten the timing belt idler pulley bolt, while holding the eccentric in place with the J 42069-40 Adjustment Wrench to prevent movement, to 40 N·m (30 lb ft).

  3. Remove the J 42069-10 Crankshaft Locking Tool and the J 42069-20 Checking Gauge.
  4. Turn the crankshaft in the engine rotational direction two revolutions with the J 42098 Crank Hub Torx Socket. Stop at 60 degrees BTDC.
  5. Install the J 42069-10 Crankshaft Locking Tool to the crankshaft drive gear with the knurled bolt.
  6. Use the J 42098 Crank Hub Torx Socket to carefully turn the crankshaft until the lever of the J 42069-10 firmly contacts the water pump pulley flange.
  7. Secure the moveable lever of the tool to the water pump pulley flange.
  8. Install the J 42069-20 Checking Gauge to camshaft gears 3 & 4.
  9. Inspect the alignment of the marks on the camshaft gears in reference to the marks on the J 42069-20 Checking Gauge.
  10. Repeat the procedure again if the marks do not align.
  11. If camshaft gears 3 and 4 are properly aligned, continue checking the timing belt adjustment of camshaft gears 1 and 2. Make necessary corrections as outlined further on in this section.
  12. AFTER all applicable camshaft gear adjustments are made, set the final timing belt tensioner as outlined in Timing Belt Tensioner Adjustment at the end of this procedure.

Marks on Camshaft Gears 1 and 2 Align to the LEFT of J 42069-20
  1. Loosen the timing belt idler pulley for camshaft gears 1 & 2.

    2. Object Number: 158987 Size: LH
  2. Use the J 42069-40 Adjustment Wrench to turn eccentric on the idler pulley COUNTERCLOCKWISE until the marks on the camshaft gears and on the J 42069-20 Checking Gauge are in alignment (the high point of the idler pulley eccentric will be in approximately the 9 o'clock position).

    3. Tighten
    Tighten the timing belt idler pulley bolt, while holding the eccentric in place with the J 42069-40 Adjustment Wrench to prevent movement, to 40 N·m (30 lb ft).

  3. Remove the J 42069-10 Crankshaft Locking Tool and the J 42069-20 Checking Gauge.
  4. Turn the crankshaft in the engine rotational direction two revolutions with the J 42098 Crank Hub Torx Socket. Stop at 60 degrees BTDC.
  5. Install the J 42069-10 Crankshaft Locking Tool to the crankshaft drive gear with the knurled bolt.
  6. Use the J 42098 Crank Hub Torx Socket to carefully turn the crankshaft until the lever of the J 42069-10 firmly contacts the water pump pulley flange.
  7. Secure the moveable lever of the tool to the water pump pulley flange.
  8. Install the J 42069-20 Checking Gauge to camshaft gears 1 & 2.
  9. Inspect the alignment of the marks on the camshaft gears in reference to the marks on the J 42069-20 Checking Gauge.
  10. Repeat the procedure again if the marks do not align.
  11. If camshaft gears 1 and 2 are properly aligned, set the final timing belt tensioner as outlined in Timing Belt Tensioner Adjustment at the end of this procedure.

Marks on Camshaft Gears 1 and 2 Align to the RIGHT of J 42069-20
  1. Loosen the timing belt idler pulley for camshaft gears 1 & 2.

    2. Object Number: 158990 Size: LH
  2. Slacken the timing belt by turning the eccentric on the idler pulley CLOCKWISE with the J 42069-40 Adjustment Wrench until the marks on the camshaft gears and the marks on the J 42069-20 Checking Gauge are in alignment (the high point of the idler pulley eccentric will be in approximately the 9 o'clock position).

    3. Tighten
    Tighten the timing belt idler pulley bolt, while holding the eccentric in place with the J 42069-40 Adjustment Wrench to prevent movement, to 40 N·m (30 lb ft).

  3. Remove the J 42069-10 Crankshaft Locking Tool and the J 42069-20 Checking Gauge.
  4. Turn the crankshaft in the engine rotational direction two revolutions with the J 42098 Crank Hub Torx Socket. Stop at 60 degrees BTDC.
  5. Install the J 42069-10 Crankshaft Locking Tool to the crankshaft drive gear with the knurled bolt.
  6. Use the J 42098 Crank Hub Torx Socket to carefully turn the crankshaft until the lever of the J 42069-10 firmly contacts the water pump pulley flange.
  7. Secure the moveable lever of the tool to the water pump pulley flange.
  8. Install the J 42069-20 Checking Gauge to camshaft gears 1 & 2.
  9. Inspect the alignment of the marks on the camshaft gears in reference to the marks on the J 42069-20 Checking Gauge.
  10. Repeat the procedure again if the marks do not align.
  11. If camshaft gears 1 and 2 are properly aligned, set the final timing belt tensioner as outlined in Timing Belt Tensioner Adjustment at the end of this procedure.

Timing Belt Tensioner Adjustment

Important: The following steps are the COMPLETION of installing and/or adjusting the timing belt and must not be performed as a stand alone operation.

  1. With the J 42069-10 in place locking the crankshaft at TDC:

    2. Object Number: 158993 Size: MH
    1.1. Loosen the timing belt tensioner eccentric locking nut.
    1.2. Turn the eccentric counterclockwise to full stop, then back until the reference mark is 2-4 mm ABOVE the reference mark on the flange.

    Tighten
    Tighten the timing belt tensioner locking nut to 20 N·m (15 lb ft).

  2. If the timing belt idler pulley bolts for camshafts 3 & 4 and 1 & 2 have not been previously torqued to specification:

    3. Tighten
    Tighten the timing belt idler pulley bolts while holding the eccentric in place with the J 42069-40 Adjusting Wrench to prevent movement, to 40 N·m (30 lb ft).

  3. Remove all checking tools.
  4. As a final inspection, once again rotate the engine in the clockwise direction two revolutions until reaching 60 degrees BTDC.
  5. Install the J 42069-10 Crankshaft Locking Tool to the crankshaft drive gear with the knurled bolt.
  6. Use the J 42098 Crank Hub Torx Socket to carefully turn the crankshaft until the lever of the J 42069-10 firmly contacts the water pump pulley flange.
  7. Secure the moveable lever of the tool to the water pump pulley flange.
  8. Inspect the alignment of the reference marks on the camshaft gears with the notches on the rear timing belt cover, as well as, the mark on the crankshaft gear with the mark on the oil pump housing.
  9. Inspect the alignment of the marks on all four camshaft gears in reference to the marks on the J 42069-20 Checking Gauge.
  10. Repeat the procedure again if the marks do not align.
  11. Continue with the engine reassembly as outlined in Timing Belt Replacement if further timing belt adjustment is not needed.