Turn Crankshaft Backwards

I agree the issue with turning crank the wrong way is most likely related to the vvt hubs.

Turn crankshaft backwards. Crankshaft won t turn over 180 degrees. For starters it sounds like you made all your movements with the belt on. Hopefully one does not damage the vvt hubs by turning them the wrong way. Front sight focus how to instantly shoot like a navy seal duration.

We believe when we turned the engine backward while undoing the crank bolt the chain lost tension and skipped a teeth or two and that was while the chain tensioner was on. When a motor is turned backwards the timing relationship between the crank timing mark and the cam distributor etc changes so parts can be installed out of time etc. This is an interference engine and you very likely have some damage to valves or pistons if it broke while running. There are valves hitting pistons stopping the rotation.

My take on this is yes the engine is engineered to be turning clockwise that there is a tensioner for the timing belt chain for it to turn clockwise. If you happen to rotate the engine and you pass the timing marks on the crankshaft or camshaft you must continue rotating a full 360 or 720 degrees to get back to timing depends where you left off. If the belts adjusted correctly this will not be a problem. You can turn it backwards then just need to turn it back forwards enough to remove the slack restore the timing relationship.

If the crank won t turn the cam is not in the proper position to allow it. Engine out of timing. If there is no mechanism to prevent the adjuster from being pushed back the chain pulls itself into a straighter path as it pushes the tensioner in. What old man said and turning the crank backwards also there is a risk of the timing belt jumping a tooth as the tight side of the belt is relaxed and the slack side tightened.