I just did a valve lash adjustment on my car and now its backfiring, ticking and wont take off with any power when driving. Im afraid I didnt find TDC on each cylinder when I adjusted. From what I understand as I read the article on the site, you look for then the sister cylinder is about to open. Im not really clear if the next one openin on the other side or am I looking for the oppposite side (the intake to open) The car ran fine for like a day, what could have happened. I just had a valve job done.

 

you're valve adjustment is way too loose...

re-do it like this...

put the #1 cylindar at TDC by rotating the crank pulley bolt counter clockwise until you line up the marks from the crank pully with the marks on the timing covers.

to make sure #4 is at TDC, physically try and lift the rocker arms on both intake and exhaust side and if they wobble up and down, you're set...

adjust the valve lash so you can barely slip the feeler guage in and out from under the rocker arm one arm at a time, intake or exhaust first, doesnt matter...

then repeat in the firing order.... move the #3 cylidar to TDC by rotating the crank 180 degrees, and do the same for #4 and #2

IN THAT ORDER....

should fix it