Subaru Legacy III (2000-2003 year). Manual - part 421

ME(H4DOSTC)-48

MECHANICAL

TIMING BELT ASSEMBLY

Z

1

: 54.5 tooth length

Z

2

: 51 tooth length

Z

3

: 28 tooth length

6) Remove the belt idler (A).

7) Remove the timing belt.

CAUTION:
After the timing belt has been removed, never 
rotate the intake and exhaust, camshaft sprock-
et. If the camshaft sprocket is rotated, the in-
take and exhaust valve heads strike together 
and valve stems are bent.

2. BELT IDLER AND AUTOMATIC BELT 
TENSION ADJUSTER ASSEMBLY

1) Remove the belt idler (B) and (C).

2) Remove the belt idler No. 2.

3) Remove the automatic belt tension adjuster as-
sembly.

ME-00071

ME-00072

Z1

Z2

Z3

Z3

ME-00073

( A )

( B )

( C )

( A )

( B )

( C )

ME-00074

ME-00075

ME-00076

ME(H4DOSTC)-49

MECHANICAL

TIMING BELT ASSEMBLY

B: INSTALLATION

1. BELT IDLER AND AUTOMATIC BELT 
TENSION ADJUSTER ASSEMBLY

1) Preparation for installation of automatic belt ten-
sion adjuster assembly;

NOTE:
• Always use a vertical type pressing tool to move
the adjuster rod down.
• Do not use a lateral type vise.
• Push the adjuster rod vertically.
• Be sure to slowly move the adjuster rod down ap-
plying a pressure of 294 N (30 kgf, 66 lb).
• Press-in the push adjuster rod gradually taking
more than 3 minutes.
• Do not allow press pressure to exceed 9,807 N
(1,000 kgf, 2,205 lb).
• Press the adjuster rod as far as the end surface
of the cylinder. Do not press the adjuster rod into
the cylinder. Doing so may damage the cylinder.
• Do not release press pressure until stopper pin is
completely inserted.

(1) Attach the automatic belt tension adjuster
assembly to the vertical pressing tool.
(2) Slowly move the adjuster rod down with a
pressure of 294 N (30 kgf, 66 lb) until the adjust-
er rod is aligned with the stopper pin hole in the
cylinder.

(3) With a 2 mm (0.08 in) dia. stopper pin or a 2
mm (0.08 in) (nominal) dia. hex bar wrench in-
serted into the stopper pin hole in the cylinder,
secure the adjuster rod.

2) Install automatic belt tension adjuster assembly.

Tightening torque:

39 N·m (4.0 kgf-m, 28.9 ft-lb)

3) Install belt idler No. 2.

Tightening torque:

39 N·m (4.0 kgf-m, 28.9 ft-lb)

4) Install the belt idler.

Tightening torque:

39 N·m (4.0 kgf-m, 28.9 ft-lb)

2. TIMING BELT

1) Preparation for installation of automatic belt ten-
sion adjuster assembly. <Ref. to ME(H4DOSTC)-
49, TIMING BELT, INSTALLATION, Timing Belt
Assembly.>
2) Crankshaft and camshaft sprocket alignment.

ME-00077

ME-00078

ME-00079

ME-00075

ME-00080

ME(H4DOSTC)-50

MECHANICAL

TIMING BELT ASSEMBLY

(1) Align mark (A) on the crankshaft sprocket
with mark on the oil pump cover at cylinder
block.

(2) Align single line mark (A) on the exhaust
camshaft sprocket (RH) with notch (B) on belt
cover.

(3) Align single line mark (A) on the intake cam-
shaft sprocket (RH) with notch (B) on belt cover.
(Make sure double lines (C) on intake camshaft
and exhaust camshaft sprockets are aligned.)

(4) Align single line mark (A) on exhaust cam-
shaft sprocket (LH) with notch (B) on belt cover
by turning the sprocket counterclockwise (as
viewed from front of engine).

(5) Align the single line mark (A) on intake cam-
shaft sprocket (LH) with notch (B) on belt cover
by turning the sprocket clockwise (as viewed
from front of engine).
Ensure the double lines (C) on intake and ex-
haust camshaft sprockets are aligned.

(6) Ensure the camshaft and crankshaft sprock-
ets are positioned properly.

CAUTION:
• Intake and exhaust camshafts for this DOHC
engine can be independently rotated with the
timing belts removed. As can be seen from the
figure, if the intake and exhaust valves are lifted

(A)

ME-00081

ME-00082

( A )

( B )

( A )

( B )

( C )

ME-00083

( A )

( B )

ME-00084

( A )

( B )

( C )

ME-00085

ME(H4DOSTC)-51

MECHANICAL

TIMING BELT ASSEMBLY

simultaneously, their heads will interfere with
each other, resulting in bent valves.

• When the timing belts are not installed, four
camshafts are held at the “zero-lift” position,
where all cams on camshafts do not push the
intake and exhaust valves down. (Under this
condition, all valves remain unlifted.)
• When the camshafts are rotated to install the
timing belts, #2 intake and #4 exhaust cam of
left-hand camshafts are held to push their cor-
responding valves down. (Under this condition,
these valves are held lifted.) Right-side cam-
shafts are held so that their cams do not push
valves down.
• Left-hand camshafts must be rotated from
the “zero-lift” position to the position where the
timing belt is to be installed at as small an angle
as possible, in order to prevent mutual interfer-
ence of intake and exhaust valve heads.
• Do not allow the camshafts to rotate in the di-
rection shown in the figure as this causes both

intake and exhaust valves to lift simultaneous-
ly, resulting in interference with their heads.

3) Installation of timing belt:

Align the alignment mark on timing belt with marks
on sprockets in alphabetical order shown in the  fig-
ure.
While aligning marks, position the timing belt prop-
erly. 

CAUTION:
• Disengagement of more than three timing
belt teeth may result in interference between
the  valve and piston.
• Ensure the belt's rotating direction is correct.

(A) Intake camshaft

(B) Exhaust camshaft

ME-00086

(A)

(B)

(A) Rotating direction

(B) Timing belt installation position

( A )

( A )

( B )

( A )

( A )

( B )

ME-00314

ME-00088