Hey guys I am planning to redo the timing this weekend, and I have been searching and I cant find the answer. I will like to know if the best way to fix the mechanical timing is to just remove the timing belt completely and reset crank gear and the cam?(Can I just rotate both the cam and crank independently to set TDC?) or can I fix it by just loosening the tension enough to slide the belt off the cam and rotate it to the proper TDC markings?

I think I did the timing belt on my wrong, when I installed the timing belt kit this summer. The car idles fine but it drives sluggish with really bad mpgs 150-200 per tank. The car at the time had a bad 02 sensor and a exhaust leak near the exhaust which I later replaced/corrected I could not pin point the issue right way. The car is my second car, and the fact that I havent had time is why it have taken me this long to continue to troubleshoot the issue.

A back in Oct or Sept I checked the timing, by removing the top timing belt cover and setting the engine at TDC and the last time I checked it was was fine, so I replaced wires, cap and rotors with no success. After replacing the rotor and Cap I got a timing light and I was not able to get a good reading as I am not able to see the timing marking on the crank pulley. Which is what is leading me to think that the timing some how is off by a tooth..

 

you can loosen tensioner to move belt.
if you had a bad o2 sensor. car defaults to rich and drinks gas to preserve itself from lean.
the plastic cover has TDC markings

 

You should verify the timing first before loosening the tensioner to attemp the adjustment. Take clear precise pictures if you're unsure.

 

Great thanks man, I will do that. I hope I can get this corrected once and for all because this is whats keeping me from using the car a daily lol

Yeah I know which is why I thought the car was behaving the way it currently is, since the fuel trim were off, running rich. But I replaced the sensor and sealed the leaks and the car still drinks gas like there is no tomorrow.

 

I will do that, I will get the engin to TDC first, and then check how off are the cam markings.

 

Thanks for all the suggestions guys, I had a friend help me fix the timing on the car yesterday. It was easier than I though it would be..

I took some pictures of how many tooth it was off. The wired part is that the car had a good idle and everything it just didnt drive right.

I going to start dayling to see how it feels, I might have to adjust the valves, I hope the few times I drove it like that didnt damage the valves.


This first two are how off it was







This pics is after I got it lined up with the TDC marks





This is the ignition timing with the Timing Gun, I got it on the the red mark.