timing belt question. help! [bad install by shop]

[Coheed]

A few days ago I had a mechanic friend of mine replace the all the belts on my car including the timing belt. After he put the timing belt on. I noticed that the cam closest to the bumper was about 2 notches ahead of the one behind it in the direction towards the bumper. Now I notice my car idling roughly in spurts and the exhaust sounds louder when accelerating. The car seems to drive fine other that this. Does anyone know if this is a big deal and what the problem may be? I've heard you can advance the timing slightly and it just makes your car run a little rich and possibly add more horesepower. But I am not sure which direction advances or retards timing. Anyway I'm gonna ask him to come back and reset it if that needs to be done. So anyone with any knowledge please help ASAP! Thanks!

 

[BISHILVR]

must have been unexperienced with the dsm timing belt.....anyway yeah it's kinda a big deal if you ever want your car to run right and pass emissions ever again. the way you described it the exhaust cam is retarded by 2 teeth and thats just not good. just get the guy to fix it right this time and don't drive it anymore than you have to until it's fixed!

 

[BUCK]

After he put the timing belt on. I noticed that the cam closest to the bumper was about 2 notches ahead of the one behind it in the direction towards the bumper.

Why in God's name didn't you do something about it then?

 

[Coheed]

Originally posted by BUCK
Why in God's name didn't you do something about it then?

Well I was going to.. but by the time i talked to him he and my roomie had both driven it hard and said everything seemed fine. It was not until I drove it (the one who knows everything about the car the most) that I realized something was a little off. Anyway tanks for the help guys. But the cam closest the the bumper is the exhaust cam and it being ahead by two notches towards the bumpes means it is retarded slightly correct? and it's as simple as turning it the other way two notches to fix it?

 

[4g63tsiawd]

when i did my timingbelt for the first time I had the same problem I lined the two marks together and finished putting on the timing belt. But when I turned the engine around by hand and realigned the marks the exhaust was about 2 teeth apart. What you have to do is when you line up the cam gears make the exhaust one tooth down so when you spin over the engine BY HAND everything falls into place.

 

[4g63tsiawd]

Oh and you better make sure he set the auto tensioner correctly cause if he didn't the belt will come off and bend your valves

 

[BUCK]

Coheed: Well I was going to.. but by the time i talked to him he and my roomie had both driven it hard and said everything seemed fine.

Not to be a prick but THAT is pure bullshit - There's a full hours work left to do after you saw the marks just installing the covers alone - There was PLENTY of time for you to make your point - The only point you've made so far is you stood by & WATCHED them screw up! I hope your valves aren't bent & I hope your Head isn't killed - but if they are it's your fault.

 

[Coheed]

Originally posted by BUCK
Not to be a prick but THAT is pure bullshit - There's a full hours work left to do after you saw the marks just installing the covers alone - There was PLENTY of time for you to make your point - The only point you've made so far is you stood by & WATCHED them screw up! I hope your valves aren't bent & I hope your Head isn't killed - but if they are it's your fault.

Incorrect. I was no standing there the whole time he was working on the car. I came home from work and he had the timing belt on and nothing else. When i glanced at it I thought it looked like maybe one of the cam gears was off. He came back the next morning and finished the car before I got a chance to ask him about it. And by then he said he ahd driven it and it seemed fine. And actually now I think that the cam gears are lined up properly but the oil pump or balance shaft gears at the bottom are not timed right. Anyones have any idea abotu the effects of those or damage it would cause?

 

[RoasT BeeF]

Well yes if he has the balance shafts 180 your car will vibrate like a mofo. If he gets the crank off its just as bad as getting the cams off...