How to align the timing belt on a Ford Kuga 1.6T?
2 Answers
The size of the contact gap not only affects the strength of the spark but also the timing of the contact opening and closing. Loosen the spark plug of the first cylinder. If there is an octane selector, adjust it to the "0" scale position. Determine the position where the breaker contacts just begin to open. Loosen the fixing screw of the distributor housing and rotate the housing first in the direction of the distributor shaft rotation. Insert the high-voltage wires of each cylinder in the order of 1, 5, 3, 6, 2, 4 in a clockwise direction. Start the engine and let it run until it reaches normal temperature. If the engine emits a short and slight knocking sound and it disappears immediately, the ignition timing is appropriate.
Replacing the timing belt requires extra caution. I've done it a few times myself. First, you need to position the No. 1 cylinder at top dead center (TDC), aligning the notch on the crankshaft pulley precisely with the triangular arrow mark on the oil pan. The camshaft side is equally critical – the timing marks on both camshaft gears must align perfectly with the reference lines on the valve cover. Before installing the new belt, loosen the tensioner pulley. When fitting the new belt, ensure all timing marks remain aligned, and never leave the belt slack. After installation, manually rotate the crankshaft two full revolutions and recheck all marks – being off by even half a tooth can spell trouble. This job isn't for inexperienced hands. A misaligned timing belt can cause severe engine vibration at best, or bend valves requiring expensive repairs at worst. I'd recommend finding a reputable repair shop with proper torque wrenches and specialized tools for the job.
