Hey guys, just got the timing belt changed on f22 in a 94 lude at a very reputable shop, now the cars running 'hard' and feels stressed, like its running tight. the shop can't find anything wrong but they know that its not something they can figure out unless you drive the car everyday. hard to explain but at 3000 rpms, it feels like somethings going to snap. not hesitation or stumbling, just feels stressed like the engine isn't spinning freely as it was prior to the timing belt change. obviously checked the belt, valves, and timing but can't find anything out of wack; the plugs, plug wires, fuel filter, air filter, o2 sensor, all new. the car's totally stock by the way - any suggestions? thanks

 

So if you check the cam timing and ignition timing and it matches up good then I wouldn't worry about it. How are you checking timing?

 

balance shaft out of time...

 

how did they tension the belt ? How tight is it ?

 

if the belt was overtightened, then you would just hear a whinning sound from the belt as the rpms get higher. double check the cam / crank timing.

 

That to me would seem more logical. I know tight timing belt = whine however that is the only thing that would make some sense. Mech timing being out would run rough, bog and hesitate. It wouldn't cause it to feel stressed or stained at 3k.

Are you sure that there is a problem and its not all in your head ? Did the shop verify that there is a problem and they just can not find it ?

 

thanks to the excellent advice and insight provided here, i think we figured it out with the guys at the shop. i give those guys credit for listening and trying to sort it out instead of dismissing the questions and suggestions i was offering and thinking it was all in my head. you guys all know the feeling of having some random dude tell you how to do your job right? nobody likes that but they listened and rechecked the timing and cam/crank position, etc. hell for all we know those guys may have checked this post here and let me think they were listening to what i was saying.

the hypothesis is that the cam crank timing was off by a tooth last time the belt was replaced so the timing on the dizzy was dramatically changed to compensate for it. now the belt was put on correctly but the timing at the distributor was not. i guess the tech thought since it was mechanically timed, no need to check distributor - does that make any sense? anyway hopefully its good now, but we'll see when i get it later. i'll update this later either way so there will be closure. thanks to all for your help. hopefully its fixed now.

for the benefit of others trying to diagnose this same issue in the future: there was no bogging, hesitation, or running rough. just ran hard, felt stressed or strained at 3k rpms. i changed all the filters, etc and crap since it would eliminate cheap and easy issues (had to be addressed anyway). i checked vacuum lines etc. to make sure it wasn't something like a cracked line. i didn't take it above 3k rpms since it felt like something was going to snap inside the motor.

 

[QUOTE=Hawkze_2.3;37540635]So if you check the cam timing and ignition timing and it matches up good then I wouldn't worry about it. How are you checking timing?[/QUOTE

genius

 

car running fine, that was the problem - still strong at 252,000 miles bone stock F22