2.3L ('83-'97) Timing belt question

[Lance58]

Doing the timing belt on my 96 2.3, it was last replaced about 60K ago. Noticed whomever did the belt last had the oil pump out by one tooth clockwise.
Any idea how this would affect the running?

Thanks

 

[MikeG]

Why would the oil pump affect engine timing?

 

[RonD]

The AUX gear, oil pump drive, is also used by the CAM sensor, so should be timed correctly, but the computer does have some leeway to self adjust the Cam timing pulse, so you could experience rough running but unlikely
If it was more than 1 tooth off then it would set a code, cam sensor code

The Crank sensor is the main timing sensor for the engine's spark and injectors, the Cam sensor is used to fine tune that timing because its gear rotates at half the RPMs of crank so has better "resolution"
Crank gear sets 0deg TDC, period, so computer reads cam sensor and adjusts its signal to match crank signal for 0deg TDC then adjusts spark and injector timing based on that


One thing to watch out for is that both the Cam and Aux gears will have BOTH timing marks since these gear are interchangeable, same part number, and a worn down DIAMOND looks ALOT like a triangle, lol

 

[Lance58]

Awesome, thanks RonD, tor the quick answer, I couldn't figure why it was running fairly well if this was out.

 

[Lance58]

Well that made a difference, truck is much snappier now.
Also I think it was running a bit rich before, I could often smell unburned fuel but not now.
Good thing I did the belt, the tensioner was shot as was the water pump, I doubt they changed them when they did the belt.