Did I bend valves?? Cranked mis-timed motor.

[12sec92Tsi]

Okay so the other day I changed my tbelt and forgot to put cyl 1 at tdc before removing the belt so I thought I would just align the crank and oil pump sprockets and put the dowel pins of the cam gears facing up then put the new belt on. Well I was in a hurry and forgot to align the cam gears and tried to start the car like that. So I thought I bent valves but I redid the whole job with everything in line and now it runs but really bad. Has a rough idle and stalls when clutch is pressed in. I did a compression test and got 160-170 psi across all 4 cylinders so does this mean my valves are good or what? The car runs like crap and I don't know why, it has good compression and runs fine above 2k rpm cruising just idles rough and has a slight miss while on throttle like it's out of time. All timing marks are lined up including balance shaft sprocket. Has goo oil pressure 15-20 psi at idle. What could be causing my car to run bad?? TIA.

 

[RoasT BeeF]

What is your base timing set at?

Having the exhaust cam off a tooth with result in poor vacuum and could cause idle/stalling problems. Double check and make sure all the marks line up.

 

[12sec92Tsi]

What is your base timing set at?

Having the exhaust cam off a tooth with result in poor vacuum and could cause idle/stalling problems. Double check and make sure all the marks line up.

I don't know what my base timing is at right now, I need to get a timing light and check it and adjust if necessary. The exhaust cam has been 1 tooth off ever since I got the car and just gave it a mis every 5 or so seconds while at idle. But ever since I changed the tbelt this week it idles very rough and stalls when the clutch is pressed in. All timing marks are lined up (crank, oil pump, balance shaft), I triple checked before putting the tensioner on. I think I'm just going to take it to a shop and have it looked at, I am tired of messing with it and am lost right now as to what it could be.

 

[arash15]

do a compression test

 

[12sec92Tsi]

do a compression test

I did a compression test and got 160-170 psi across all 4 cylinders

Compression is great.

 

[RoasT BeeF]

I would suggest setting your base timing first and re-doing the timing so that its not off a tooth man. I realize it was like this since you have had the car but that doesnt mean its right and doesnt mean its ok to do it again. Does the car even idle or does it just die when you let off the gas and put the clutch in? And if so does it die EVERY time?

Lets try the simple things that you already know are wrong before spending the $ at a shop.

 

[12sec92Tsi]

Yeah I think I'm going to get a timing light this weekend and setting the base timing to 5* btdc and make sure base idle is good too. When I changed the tbelt I though that would be a good time to fix that exhaust cam but we pulled the valve cover and my dad held the cam with a wrench and the hexagon and I tried to break the bolt loose and the damn thing would not budge. I was pulling so hard on that thing I though the cam was going to break, but the bolt never even broke loose, so unless I can get access to an impact gun I'll probably just leave it like it is. And yes the car pretty much stalls every time I press the clutch in or come to a stop, it just can't hold a steady idle. Sometimes it stays at like 500 rpm but then eventually shuts off. I thing base timing just need corrected.

 

[RoasT BeeF]

Why were you trying to take the cam gear off??

When you set your base timing remember to ground the the pin on the firewall or the computer will be trying to adjust the timing at the same time you are... Read here http://www.plymouthlaser.com/timin.htm

 

[12sec92Tsi]

I wasn't trying to take it off, I just needed to loosen the bolt so I could rotate the gear 1 tooth clockwise so both marks would align. I already read through the vfaq on setting timing so I do it right, but thanks for the link. Maybe some PB blaster would help get that bolt loose.

 

[huafist]

I wasn't trying to take it off, I just needed to loosen the bolt so I could rotate the gear 1 tooth clockwise so both marks would align. I already read through the vfaq on setting timing so I do it right, but thanks for the link. Maybe some PB blaster would help get that bolt loose.

WTF
You can't just "loosen the bolt" and move the cam gears - they go on one way, and one way only (the dowel pins make sure of that). Unless you have aftermarket cam gears that are adjustable, you can't change your timing this way. Even if you could move the cam to line up, you're not fixing the problem because the cams still won't be where they need to be, just the marks.
You need to take the belt back off and re-time things properly.

 

[12sec92Tsi]

Okay I got a timing light today and set base timing to 5* BTDC and set base idle to 850 where I had it before. The car still runs like crap but still has perfect compression in every cylinder. I already tried new wires and that didn't help and I looked at the plugs and they just show normal wear. I know for a fact that all timing marks are lined up except the cam gears. The exhaust cam is 1-2 teeth off, but the intake is good. Could this be what is causing the car to run bad. I know someone said earlier that having the exh. cam off a tooth or so would cause poor vacuum and mine ranges from 5-10 in/hg right now and can barely hold an idle. So what does everyone think, is it the exhaust cam being off that is causing the car to run bad?? Thanks for all the help.

 

[huafist]

Okay I got a timing light today and set base timing to 5* BTDC and set base idle to 850 where I had it before. The car still runs like crap but still has perfect compression in every cylinder. I already tried new wires and that didn't help and I looked at the plugs and they just show normal wear. I know for a fact that all timing marks are lined up except the cam gears. The exhaust cam is 1-2 teeth off, but the intake is good. Could this be what is causing the car to run bad. I know someone said earlier that having the exh. cam off a tooth or so would cause poor vacuum and mine ranges from 5-10 in/hg right now and can barely hold an idle. So what does everyone think, is it the exhaust cam being off that is causing the car to run bad?? Thanks for all the help.

It's a real good bet that's your problem. Re-time the engine and fix it.

 

[bullettdsm]

It's a real good bet that's your problem. Re-time the engine and fix it.

Repeated for emphasis!
MB

 

[MyBlack94GST]

I improperly tensioned a timing belt once on my n/t 4g63 laser. then this happened. then i retimed it and all was well. in conclusion, retime it.

 

[12sec92Tsi]

The problem was resolved on Tuesday. I pulled everything apart again and used 2 wrenches to hold the cams where they should be and got it all put back together with everything in line then set base timing to 5* btdc. It now runs better than ever and just for fun I did a compression test today and got 165-155-155-160. Thanks for all the inputs you guys helped me figure this out without me spending money at a shop which is a big plus.

 

[boostedinaz]

Wow imagine that, doing something the correct way actualy fixed a problem.