http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u...batson/003.jpg

this is how I accessed that hidden back bolt for the timing belt tensioner...
I was nice to have a second person up top guiding things with their finger...

anyways, got it all back together today and went to start it...

and it doesnt start. I hear the solenoid clicking fast...so i check the battery since it has been sitting a week and it is 11.42 V
so i'm charging it now and crossing my fingers :coffee:

11.42v is not going to get ya turned over. With a good battery I read about 12.35.

I am crossing my fingers as well. I will even try toes.

i hate that feeling. I did my wife's '00 TL and same thing, plus I destroyed the power steering pump by over-tightening the belt tension. But I hate that Acura. Don't worry - it'll start.

it's alive! (evil laugh)

seems to run great and as normal :great:

and biker, i know what you mean about over tightening belts, and i'm usually pretty careful.

thanks everyone for all the help with my first 4runner timing belt!
now, in a week or two my buddy wants me to help him do his on his 96 tacoma 3.4 :)
so i can pay it forward and help somebody else with my new found experience.

in a few weeks it is on to the valve cover gaskets :banger:

thx again everybody :grouphug:

woot woot! good deal, very cool; glad she's runnin'.

big confidence booster, eh??

valve cover gaskets will be a walk in the park - just a messy and frustrating walk. It feels pretty darn good to do your first timing belt, so congrats!

yes it is a confidence booster and gives a nice sense of accomplishment
and it soooo nice knowing i just saved several hundreds of dollars on labor costs:great:

Good job Matt. Got any more pics to post?

The first drive belts I ever changed I killed the alternator by tightening it too much. But I was 17, and am now twice that age but not twice as smart.

I used this guide to change the valve cover gaskets:

https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f2/5...beware-149594/

Super, Matt! Nothing like a good strong vrrrrrrmmmm. Passing it forward is what it's all about around here. :)

hey, thanks for the tutorial link! I'm actually on vacation and dont have internet at the place we are staying, so missed your response.
I dont really have many other pics, as I wasnt really thinking of doing a step by step, as there are other tutorials already...
but when I do the valve cover, I plan to do a picture write up :coffee:

I agree!
I will take some pics and report on his timing belt change when we do it in a week or two