2.3L ('83-'97) Timing belt mistake?

[Levi]

I replaced the tiiming belt on my 1987 2.3L due to the truck running poorly (black smoke, no power, backfires). Now, the truck will not start and it cranks very uneven. I have a video showcasing my timing marks as well as the engine cranking. I dont remember if I showed in the video but I made sure the oil pump drive gear was facing directly upright as I believe it spins the distributor.

Edit: I got the truck running like a top again! Thank you so much for the replies.

I did not have the cam gear aligned correctly so the distributor was not firing spark plug #1 when cylindar #1 was at TDC.

 

[sgtsandman]

Something definitely isn't right. We'll have to wait for someone who has worked on your engine to reply. Welcome to the forum. We'll get you running again.

 

[Dirtman]

Did you start with the crank at TDC before pulling the balancer?

 

[scotts90ranger]

Someone could have pulled the distributor and had it set up so the aux shaft isn't lined up appropriately when it's on #1 TDC, I would get it on #1 TDC and pull the distributor cap to see if the rotor is pointing to the #1 plug wire.

 

[RonD]

It looks like the Cam gear mark was at 6:00 not 4:00

And yes, with AUX gear mark at 12:00 distributor rotor should be pointed at #1 spark plug wire on cap

 

[Levi]

Someone could have pulled the distributor and had it set up so the aux shaft isn't lined up appropriately when it's on #1 TDC, I would get it on #1 TDC and pull the distributor cap to see if the rotor is pointing to the #1 plug wire.

Unfortunately I did not pay attention to the position of the crankshaft pulley. I assumed that I would end up setting the timing solely from the timing marks. This is my first timing belt/chain and i am glad it is neither a vehicle i rely on nor is it an interferance engine. What do I have to do to get it fixed?

 

[Dirtman]

I'd just pull the belt and start over. Put the crank at TDC mark, line up oil/distributor gear marks, line up cam gear mark (verify cam is on compression stroke meaning both valves closed with next valve set to open is #1 exhaust.) Have tensioner loose and ready to go on. Then put the belt on and release the tensioner making sure the tensioner doesn't pop the whole thing off a tooth.

Once you're sure that's good, check the distributer is on #1 cylinder. If all that is done it should fire up and be ready to be timed.

 

[scotts90ranger]

Technically all 3 pulleys need to be lined up correctly for it to work. The crank keyway points up, line up the cam and aux pulleys and for good measure I'd check the distributor cap at the same time...

Don't get caught up in TDC if you have the belt off, when the #1 piston is up that's all that matters, the cam determines whether it's the compression or exhaust stroke...

 

[adsm08]

Yes, timing belts are often a mistake.

 

[8thTon]

Yes, timing belts are often a mistake.

I owned what was probably the first car with a timing belt - a Fiat 128. Loved that car, it was lowered and modified, and I used to autocross it. Great little engine, tough as nails.

 

[Dirtman]

Timing belts are fine if it's a non interference engine, otherwise you just own a time bomb...

 

[8thTon]

Give me a timing belt any day over that German engineering chain nightmare on the 4.0 SOHC. It must be the official BDSM engine.

 

[racsan]

My daughters 1st car was a suzuki reno, one day it quit running on her, flat-towed it home (with a ranger) Once it was home I had her crank it while I looked through the oil fill cap and sure enough, cam wasn’t turning. Lunched nearly every valve in it.

 

[adsm08]

I owned what was probably the first car with a timing belt - a Fiat 128. Loved that car, it was lowered and modified, and I used to autocross it. Great little engine, tough as nails.

And it would have been better with a chain.

It would have been even better yet with a gear drive.

 

[8thTon]

And it would have been better with a chain.

It would have been even better yet with a gear drive.

Would have been even better with no mechanical drive at all: Freevalve