Tammy

An instruction ...

colenzae

Thanks for all the advice everyone. I was about 10 degrees off on the rear camshaft. I took everything apart, turned the rear camshaft clockwise about 10 degrees and she's purring like a kitten.
Learned alot from this experience and I hope it helps others who undertake this project.

Alex

colenzae

One thing though. After about 5 minutes into my test drive, the VSC light and check engine light went on.

Lexmex

Well, you can pull the EFI fuse and that will reset the light.

However, if that CEL comes back, Autozone will let you check the OBDII code for free and if you get me the code we can go over it.

colenzae

It's a P1346 rear camshaft timing off. Any experience in fixing this problem??

thomas1

that means your timing marks are still off, you should turn the engine several revolutions after setting timiing to make sure the belt doesnt have some slack and the cams and crank come back to the proper position. or the cam sensor has a pinched wire or is damaged....

Meetya

The timing on the Bank 1 (rear) is still off. You are lucky it was only 10 degrees off the first time. 1MZ-FE VVT-i is an interference engine, if it is 35+ degrees you will have to machine the that head. VVT-i sensors (cam position sensors) are 1-tooth sensitive.

colenzae

Really? I read that this is a NON interference engine.

Lexmex

It is intereference for the 1MZFE engines in the RX300, that was confirmed a bit ago, mistake was with earlier versions of the 1MZFE.

colenzae

Is it possible to turn the camshaft without removing the timing belt?? Can it be turned after removing the belt tensioner???

Meetya

Actually, I was able to reset the timing belt just removing the upper idler. But you need 3 wrenches and another person to hold cams in position.

colenzae

Upper idler pulley I assume......
How did you keep the camshafts from turning???
The fact that I wasn't able to prevent the rear camshaft from turning is what got me into this mess in the first place.
Any advice you can throw my way is much appreciated.
I called Lexus and explained the situation. They told me $600-$700 for them to fix it. Obviously, I want to avoid that if I can.
I'll tear it apart again but I wan't to be pretty darn sure I'll be able to get it back to where it needs to be before I start.

colenzae

Is there any other way to line up the camshafts to their correct positions other than lining up the marks on the camshaft gear and timing cover housing??
The reason I'm in this situation in the first place is because 1) I neglected to make my own marks on the gear and housing before I took off the belt and
2) Because I found it next to impossible to even see the mark on housing of the rear camshaft.