Timing Question

[Blast3r]

Ive been reading and researching the forums for a long while now and I decided to post upon recently purchasing a 91 talon TSi.

Symptoms: Poor Idle, Horrible Gas Mileage(10-11mpg), average power, a/f gauge reads rich constantly, Trouble starting when not warm, Trouble Keeping engine alive when pushing in the clutch at stop signs when not warm.

My suspections: I have replaced the Plugs, check the o2 sensor, and check all other sensors. I was reading about timing and how it may be off so I decided to pop off my timing gear cover and check it out. To my suprise, the timing marks dont line up(see Pic 1a)

Pic 1a:

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I check the timing mark on the crankshaft pulley(or whatever it is called on these cars) while the marks were close to being lined up and its not even close to the marker for tdc. When I put the pulley near the mark(see Pic2a) the cam gears arent close to being lined up either(pic2b), now im not sure if these are supposed to be lined up or not.

Pic2a:

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Pic2B

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I tried to check the pulley with the timing light but I couldn't even get it to show up. So I check the Cam gears with the timing light and came up with this(Pic 3A)

Pic3a:

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Now my guess is timing is very far off somehow. The last owner said the motor had been rebuilt recently so I'm guesing the timing was never done properly and its been wrong this whole time. If this means the timing is off, how do I adjust it properly? I assume that changing the cam angle sensor wont have any effect on it being miss aligned so I'm probably looking at pulling the belt off correct?
Any information or advice would be great at this point.
This is my first post so go easy on me. haha
Thanks
-Beanie

 

[DSM4me44]

If you have access to a Haynes manual, thats a bit helpful, at least it was for me. You want to take your timing belt off and make sure everything is top dead center. Both of the marks on your top gears need to be lined up as well as the other littler one. Theres a mark to do that. If you have some trouble pm me and ill relay exactly what it says in my haynes for you. I haven't done it in 2 years so my memory is a bit rusty.

 

[Project ES]

Your timing is definitely off!!! Thats the 1st thing I would do before I start buying sensors. Who needs a Haynes manual if you have the internet? Try looking on www.VFAQ.com, Im sure you will find all the information you need to achieve your project. This site also has lots of Tech Articles too that will have plenty of info.

 

[Cs4g63]

You should pull the covers off so you can verify for sure whether or not the timing is off. If you read through the vfaq you will have an understanding of how the timing assembly works. Once you get the covers off it will be rather easy to determine what you are going to need to do.

 

[Blast3r]

Which covers?

 

[TimG]

Take your timing belt cover off to confirm the hard timing marks (on your front case). One is on the crank sprocket spacer and one is on the oil pump sprocket.