Just wondering why the maintenance book tells me to be careful not to turn crankshaft backwards? Does it put the timing out or something?

There's a chance the cam timing belt may jump a tooth or two if you do that. Belt is somewhat slack when the hydraulic tensioner is not working.
The timing belt jumping is considered a "very bad thing" in this forum, as it would put the valve timing out and the car will run like poo, or at worst the valves and pistons will be damaged as they try to occupy the same space at the same time, so it is a big "NO NO" to turn the engine backwards.


I hate maintenance books that say "DON'T DO THIS" but don't bother to tell you why. Leaves you wanting to do it anyway just to see what happens, like "NEVER CHECK THE FLUID LEVEL IN A BATTERY WITH A NAKED LIGHT!"