1997 Cabriolet Tming Belt Replacement Gone Bad

[Cabrio Curt]

Bought the timing belt "kit" and rented the specialty tools from Blauparts. Everything went according to directions and plan. Everything went together nicely. Then I started the car and it ran rough and clattered like it was going to blow up. I really can’t see how we could be off a tooth on the timing belt. We had a rental tool to lock the crank and one to lock both cams in place.I am planning to tear it down again tomorrow and redo all the steps. I'll call blauparts for tech support but does anyone have any tips on how I went wrong and what to do? Thanks! Cabrio Curt

[Ruffiano]

did you have the crank aligned as well?

[Cabrio Curt]

Yes. Per the post, we had a rental tool to lock the crank in place. We kept the the crank lock tool in place until everything was done. The more I think about it, my concern is that when we installed the new timing belt, one of the cams may have moved on us. We removed the cam locking tool, installed the belt, replaced the locking tool and tightened down the cam spocket bolts. If so, how do I re-align the cam to crank at TDC?

[Scotty@Advanced]

did you turn the engine over by hand prior to starting it? Did you remove the crank locking tool?

To re-align you need to lock the crank @ TDC, and re-install the cam alignment tool.

[Cabrio Curt]

did you turn the engine over by hand prior to starting it? Did you remove the crank locking tool?

To re-align you need to lock the crank @ TDC, and re-install the cam alignment tool.

Did not turn over by hand. We removed the crank lock tool. When we pulled off the cam lock tool after tightening down the gear bolts, the egg shaped cam keepers (one of which may have been put on backwards - does it matter?) were aligned an we were at TDC on the crank pulley. Is there a way to set the timing to make sure the cams and crank are in the right place?

[Cabrio Curt]

Did not turn over by hand. We removed the crank lock tool. When we pulled off the cam lock tool after tightening down the gear bolts, the egg shaped cam keepers (one of which may have been put on backwards - does it matter?) were aligned an we were at TDC on the crank pulley. Is there a way to set the timing to make sure the cams and crank are in the right place?

Thanks for the help guys! Got Blauparts on the line and learned that the two wing thingies, biscuit keepers or whatever you call them not only need to be pointing toward each other but each one has a big hole and a little hole and the big holes need to be point in toward each other. Bottom line - SUCCESS! The car runs perfect. Had a little challenge bleeding the air out of the cooling system but all is good. I still love the 97 Cabrio after all these years and with only 135K on it I plan to keep to top down in Long Beach, Ca for a few more years!