Help!
I've got an 87 Ranger with the 2.3l EFI SOHC engine. The timing belt broke a couple days back. Everything I've read indicates this is not an interference engine and shouldn't have suffered any valve/piston damage as a result. I replaced the timing belt as per directions in the Haynes manual. The water pump had a slight leak for several months which became a very bad leak when the belf failed and I replaced it also.
Engine wouldn't start after I was done. A little troubleshooting revealed that when the timing mark on the crank pulley was at TDC the #1 piston wasn't. In fact it was a long way away; at least 20 degrees of rotation. How can this be? The key and keyway in the crankshaft and the pully are fine. There is only one way the timing belt cover with the timing marks can be installed and I don't she how it could be more than a degree or two off.
Anyone have any idea how this could be or seen this before?
At least two people or more have owned this truck before I bought it and as it has 170,000 miles this would be the third or fourth belt replacement probably. The truck has run fine the two years I've had it. The engine cranks over OK and when the belt went there was no noises etc.; it just suddenly stopped running.
Jon