i`m still having to set the crank at the mark before tdc to get the car to run right . meaning - when i set the timming belt up for tensioning i set the cams perfect but i have to set the crank at the toothe before tdc to get it to run good . but i have soot in the intake i just hot tanked 2 months ago and it was clean . i have a place racing harness i bought when i did a b18a swap in my car 4 years ago. when i wanted a b16 place said all i needed was there 4 wire adapter harness for the others i didn`t have and the b18a harness would plug right up , and it did . but even when i had the b18a in there it had to be set the same way . could it be a wire harness problem . i`ve had 3 swaps in here now and i have to set them all like this . it runs like theres nothing below 3500 , even in 1st gear it ramps up kinda slow then unleashes hard above 6500. after vtec it`s kinda slow for about a grand .

 

a harness wont have anything to do with setting the timing belt so it not that!
Have you have the head milled if so you will need a set of cam gears to corect that timing! if that not the case go back and make sure your not off on the bottom by one tooth that will make her run like poo!

 

i was having this same problem too, turns out it was my tensioner.

 

Are you making sure that you are jumpering the service connector at the passenger side kick panel? If you don't, it will just go back to where it was before you changed it. If not, make sure all the marks are lined up.

 

I'm having the same problem too but before I check it, how could the tensioner cause the timming to not set right? Please explain.

 

tensioner makes the belt loose if its not tightened causing timing to be off.

 

if mine seems to be tightening then how does it throw it off ? do i need a new one or what ?