New head timing belt water pump...car runs terrible

[wcpierson]

So I just had my head rebuilt timing belt replaced and water pump replaced and now my car is running like garbage...its real rough and choppy sounding and shakes quite a bit. Mechanic said I need new plugs and wires...but to me I think its more than that...Car smells like its running rich...almost a gas smell to it. Could I not be firing on all 4 cylinders or my fuel rail not have been put back on correctly? Any ideas?

 

[jamisonj24]

There's quite a few things it could be. Start simple, make sure the spark plug wires are in the right order, check the timeing with a timing light, see if it is throwing any cel's, pull the plugs and see what they look like, and make sure all the sensors got hooked back up. If all this checks out good I would check the timing belt job, maybe one of the cams is a tooth off.

 

[1timehondalover]

Sounds to me like your timing is a tooth off. Especially if this has only developed after the repairs were completed.

 

[wcpierson]

if my timing is off a tooth is it bad that im driving the car?

 

[toyotaturbo]

If you're driving the car with the timing off, then you are on your way to replacing all the parts you just replaced.

 

[218dsm]

You say it shakes quite a bit? your balance shafts are out of time then..Thats what happened to a buddy of mine. He got a new head and everything else on the timing side done at the dealership and when he got it back it ran like crap. I spent the two ours it takes me and redid his timing and now it runs smoother than my car does.(i dont have balance shafts though like him) check that timing and let us know.