power loss at 5k RPM, Timing issue Options

[k-weaver]

I noticed someone else has a post about the same thing but his was at 4k RPM. Didn't wanna hi jack his thread so i'm starting a new one. I just replaced my timing belt and all was well until I got on the free way and the car basically gave up at 5k. I know normally the car struggles around this area but my symptoms are not normal....

So taking the advice from the responses to the other guys post I busted out the timing light and sure enough its off...I'm currently at 5 degrees above TDC. If i'm not mistaken the car normally runs at 10 correct? Now the part i'm wondering about is how to go about fixing this? Since my car is a 96 I can't move the distributor to fix. Only thing I can think of is to remove the timing belt and attempt to align everything again.

If this is the case I might need some help with the alignment. Someone please correct me if i'm wrong but this is how I did it:

Set piston 1 to TDC on the compression stroke. This is accomplished when the crankshaft pulley is at 0 Degrees TDC, the camshaft gear's timing mark is pointing upwards, and the rotor on the distributor is pointing at spark plug wire #1.

Now me being a first timer at a timing belt...My first attempt I just took the belt off and slapped it back on. I was so sure nothing moved...yeah right....Car threw a CEL P0340 and ran like crap. I took a second attempt at it doing the above to ensure everything was synchronized and its still off. I"m confident now that everything is lined up (cam and crank) its just an issue with the timing being a bit retarded.

[stephen_lee]

take belt off, move one tooth either way, run engine and free revv to 7000 rpm, if it does u got it, if not, move 2 teeth the other way

btw, a paint pen will save ur ass (put 1 mark on a tooth on the timing gear, and mark the 2 teeth closest to that one mark)

[k-weaver]

My issue has been resolved...Just to let anyone else know that may ever run into this problem...

The mark on the cam gear lines up with the motor, not straight up in the air. Easiest way to do this (for me anyway) was to take the distributor cap off and then rotate the CAM gear until the rotor was pointing as close to the #1 spark plug as possible. Then when you go back and look at the mark on the cam gear you will notice it is slanted and no longer straight up because the mark is straight up when lining it up with the motor. After I fixed this, problem solved.

[stephen_lee]

timing belts are a bitch on slanted motors

This post has been edited by stephen_lee: Mar 12, 2011 - 1:36 PM