Engine acting up after head gasket/timing belt ect.

[E30andy]

Make sure the distributor rotor is indexed correctly on the cam timing pulley. Even if you think it is, go back and take it apart and re-check. I had this problem myself.

This 100%! Same thing happened to me, car wouldnt start after TB change. Online instructions did not mention this very important step. Went back and put the rotor on in the correct orientation and she started right up.

[digger]

This 100%! Same thing happened to me, car wouldnt start after TB change. Online instructions did not mention this very important step. Went back and put the rotor on in the correct orientation and she started right up.

it only goes on 1 way doesnt it? the cam gear is dowelled, the rotor adaptor is keyed and rotor only fits 1 way due to bolt pattern?

[E30andy]

it only goes on 1 way doesnt it? the cam gear is dowelled, the rotor adaptor is keyed and rotor only fits 1 way due to bolt pattern?

Nope, I put it on the wrong way. It is keyed, but still possible to put it on wrong if you dont know its keyed. So, if you just put it on without paying attention to keying it properly, its likely its on wrong and thats your problem.

[romeo294]

Aden and Nader, thanks for ideas. I’ll check.

[romeo294]

Make sure the distributor rotor is indexed correctly on the cam timing pulley. Even if you think it is, go back and take it apart and re-check. I had this problem myself.

If it’s not indexed properly do have to take the whole cam sprocket off, or can I remove that index piece so it’s correct?

[Nader393]

No, just remove the rotor. If the cam pulley is not indexed and seated correctly, then the belt would probably not fit.

[digger]

Nope, I put it on the wrong way. It is keyed, but still possible to put it on wrong if you dont know its keyed. So, if you just put it on without paying attention to keying it properly, its likely its on wrong and thats your problem.

just checked on spare head It is massively on the piss when it’s oriented incorrectly. I can’t see how anyone would not notice that. You’d bend something if you torqued it down like that.

[romeo294]

No, just remove the rotor. If the cam pulley is not indexed and seated correctly, then the belt would probably not fit.

Welp, that was it.... I didn't have it indexed correctly. I'm the moron. I just wish I got your answer before I sent it to the mechanic. Could have saved be a little bit of money. Oh well, it's working now. Thanks for the answer.

[digger]

Welp, that was it.... I didn't have it indexed correctly. I'm the moron.

cant argue with that

[romeo294]

^ha. Chalking it up to learning experience. Funny part is my father was like “check the distributor again” and I kept telling him rotor only goes on one way. Should have looked deeper. Oh well. I appreciate this forum and the people here who’ve helped.

[tomstin]

It's always hard to double check your own work, you tend to assume. When I was writing papers in college one of the professors told me to re-read the papers from the bottom up, forces you to read the individual sentence. Same sort of thing trouble shooting, inspect one thing at a time as an individual part. Hell, I think we've all skimmed over something trouble shooting a problem! Glad you got it sorted!

[romeo294]

Thanks, just pissed that I missed something so small. Again, learning experience.