I'm almost positive the timing is right. I mean I've checked it 10 tomes and all the marks line up, so I don't know how it can be off. Would it have these symptoms if it were a timing issue? I figured if it was timing it would run rough at all rpms. I'll check it again tomorrow when I get home.

Also, I haven't gotten a cel yet. I'm hoping when I drive the car the light will come on and that will tell me the issue.

 

Bump

 

Are you sure you put the balance shaft in phase?

 

Well I never took the balance shaft belt off. But when I timed the motor all five marks lined up perfectly (both cam gears, oil pump, balance shaft, crank).

 

I have a spare maf i might part with

 

I'll keep that in mind, but I can try my brother's first. Thanks.

 

thats not what he means.... the balance shaft driven by the oil pump... if you didnt use a screwdriver to hold it (sticking it through the bolt hole in the block) you only have a 50/50 chance of getting it in phase, as the balance shafts spin at twice engine speed, so your oil pump timing mark will line up, but the shaft could be 180 off... the way to check is, with the timing belt off the oil pump, face the timing mark so its pointing straight up... if it wants to fall with the mark towards the crank, its in phase, if it falls the other way, its 180 deg. off. see this how to thread, i think the balance shaft phase explanation is written a little better in a post on the 2nd or 3rd page. https://www.evolutionm.net/forums/sh...ht=timing+belt

i dont think this would effect idle though... i think you are either off a tooth on the belt or you have a vac. leak.

 

Wow, good info. I can't believe I never read anything about that. So if it were 180 out it would run really rough all the time right?

 

yep ive heard of way too many crank angle sensors breaking during headwork

 

try and crank the engine. if the Crankshaft Position sensor is bad then I don't think you'd get fuel or spark. so pull a plug and smell of it and see if fuel is getting into the cylinder. if it's not then the CPS is bad. you could also check spark if you want.

 

^^^ sorry I posted the above message before I read that you got the car started...

did you have your head resurfaced? if so then sometimes it throws the TDC marks off by a tad.....prolly not enough to cause whats happening to you though, unless it caused you to be one tooth off while lining up the marks.

 

Well I went and drove the car, and of course I failed at the 50/50 chance of having the balance shaft in phase. There is a vibration at anything over 3k rpm.

My question is can this have anything to do with the bad idle? When the car is on the choke and at 1500 rpm it idles fine, but when it drops down it is rough and bounces around. Has anyone ran their car with the balance shaft out of phase and had a crappy idle?

Now I will take the timing cover off for the 3rd (and hopefully last) time. I'm getting good at this though, so it shouldn't take long when I find time to do it. Thanks for your input guys.

 

Bump.... any update. I am having this issue with a 2004 evo that did the same thing. Now won't turn over. Snapped belt on highway.

 

i would for sure spend a few bucks and have a shop take a look, diagnostic work is only 90 an hour, and usually waived if you repair at the shop... i will do maintenance, and even a timing belt, but it breaking is a little out of my range of comfortability. buy cheap buy twice

 

haha.. holy 4 year old thread. lowpsi, what are your issues?