Mazda Repair: timing belt, flat head screwdriver, scotch brite pad

Question
I Im changing a timing belt on a 96 mazda b2300
How do I find  the time for the right position

Answer
Well, I suggest that you use a repair manual for this project. The B2300 Truck is the same as the 2.3L Ranger.
The 2.3L SOHC Lima Ford engine is easy to replace.
I first use vise grips to clamp the belt down on all of the pulleys. I then take the spark plugs out to make rotating the engine easier. Loosen the tensioner slightly, then using a sharp contractors knife, slit the belt in half LENGTHWISE on all the arias that are not exposed by the pulleys. Then, pretension the tensioner and remove the vise grips to rotate the engine to expose all the points in the belt that have not been split yet. After splitting the rest of the belt you should now have a timing belt that is split into two belts. Now, rotate the engine until the crankshaft timing mark is lined up and the camshaft timing mark "little triangle molded into the lip of the cam pulley" is lined up with its respective mark on the back section of the plastic dust shield. Because it takes 4 crank revolutions to rotate the camshaft one time it may take a few turns to get them lined up.  Now, you need to lock the engine in order to remove the crankshaft nut. I use an air impact gun and do not require this step usually. For a manual transmission vehicle you can put the car in reverse and lock the emergency brake. For an automatic you can remove the starter and insert a large flat head screwdriver into one of the many holes in the flex plate and rotate the engine past the timing marks to wedge the screwdriver shaft against the Bellhousing. Once you have removed the pulley nut and removed the pulley you will need to use a scotch brite pad to clean up the end of the shaft and the inside of the pulley. Use a small amount of engine oil to lubricate the inside of the pulley and slip it back onto the crankshaft and use it to line up the timing marks again. Once you are satisfied with the alignment of the timing marks you can remove it and set it aside. Remove the belt washer behind the pulley and note the direction it faces. You should now be looking at a smaller toothed gear. Because you have split the belt lengthwise, you can now remove exactly one half of the timing belt. That will give you enough room to slide the new belt half way onto the pulleys without loosing your cam timing position. If you are unable to get the new belt onto all of the pulleys you can release the tensioner a little bit to ease the installation. Once the new belt is on as far as it will go, slice off the remainder of the old belt. You can now slide, or gently tap with a hammer and a block of wood, the new timing belt the rest of the way onto the pulleys. Be sure not to use any lubrication to aid the belt in sliding on as it will cause the belt to eventually fail. You have now installed the belt, and the attention will turn to the tensioner. Rotate the engines cranks shaft four times to and turn it back to the timing marks and make sure they line up. If they are off only a small amount it is normal and the belt has not stretched yet. Using your vise grips again, you can now lock the timing belt into place on the pulleys and relax the tensioner. Remove and install your new tensioner and tension the belt until the belt feels taught, but not tight, you should be able to press in the middle of the longest exposed point of the belt and have three eights of an inch of deflection with moderate pressure of three fingers. Then, rotate the engine another four rotations, realign the marks and reset the tension to the same specs. Once it is tensioned correctly you can reinstall the crank washer and the crank pulley. Then reinstall all of the other plastic and accessories. Lastly install new spark plugs and start the vehicle. That should be that, if you are unsure of using this procedure or you have already remove the belt or broken a belt you should get a repair manual and follow the instructions for belt replacement. The pictures will go a lot further in helping you with the process than any written instructions ever could.

Regards,


John