Just installed cams a few weekends ago using the evomoto guide. Zip tied the belt to the cam gears through the whole install as directed but I think my timing may be off. My idle is very rough, I have already set the timing to 7* in the block for idle, adjusted the iscv steps but too no avail. Like I said I know during the install the belt didn't skip a tooth but I don't know what else the problem could be. Car drives great, but idle is no good. My question is do I use the tensioner tool to collapse the tensioner mark the crank and intake cam timing marks and then adjust the exhaust cam if it is off a tooth or two? Any help would be great, thanks guys.

 

To adjust timing and make sure it is at TDC you have to take into account both the intake and exhaust cam gears as well as the crank pulley. If you want to double check timing then take off the passenger side fender liner, and remove the belt using the tensioner tool. Take off the valve cover and timing belt cover so you can see the marks. Line all of the marks to TDC and then install the belt and then re-tension.

MAKE SURE YOU ARE 100% POSITIVE YOU ARE AT TDC BEFORE FIRING THE MOTOR!

 

Thanks for the quick reply! One more question, the timing marks for the cams are on the valve cover so wouldnt i leave that on?

 

Anyone?

 

So here are the timing marks and the "tension" or lack there of on the belt. The crank looks to be roughly 4* off advanced towards the front of the car. Looks as though the timing is in fact off but how about the top of the timing belt. The "sides" seem to be tight but the top does not, any thoughts, help please I have to get this back together to get to work tomorrow!

 

You are correct, they are on the valve cover. I apologize. I thought you were swapping cams so you would have to remove it to get to them.

 

Okay. Well first, are you sure you applied the correct amount of tension when you reinstalled the belt? How did it sound when you turned it over, I hope you didn't hear any crazy bangs or noises coming from the motor, otherwise I would fear for the life of your valvetrain and piston tops.

The only thing you can do now is line everything up to TDC and torque the tensioner to the correct specs. Leave the timing cover off and run the car at idle for a little to see if there are any obvious issues. If not then go for a drive, see how she pulls. Don't beat on it but just see if the engine seems healthy. Then go and recheck the tension after you have driven it a good amount. If the tension is back to being garbage then the tensioner could be shot. If it is alright then my guess would be either you didn't tension the belt down enough to begin with or you misaligned the timing marks on the crank or one of the pulleys and caused the belt to jump (eventhough this doesn't explain the uneven tension).

Timing issues are really touch and go. You have to be incredibly precise or it could spell serious and expensive consequences. Just line everything up to TDC and tension it, RECHECK and then do as I stated above.

 

Thank you so much for your help, she purrs like a kitten, I didn't replace the tensioner because I wasn't doing the timing belt service. Ill re check the tension again tomorrow to see if its good. Your the man, thanks again!

 

Thank you again sir I really appreciate your help, she is running great

 

so what was it?

 

Exhaust cam was one tooth off, she is running great now!

 

I just did my 60k maintenance and noticed a rougher idle as well as the 'one-tooth-off-exhaust-cam' thing. Was your idle rougher with the exhaust cam advanced one tooth like that? Mine is exactly as it seems in your picture, so I'm wondering if I have to pull it back one tooth.

 

Exactly, idle was no good after install. Pulled the exhaust cam back a tooth(lined up the intake cam first obviously) and it corrected the idle.

 

Nice, I just fixed my issue. I had the exhaust cam one tooth off as well.