problem after rebuild - ATW 1.8t

[rick.cook23]

've completely rebuilt my ATW 1.8t - new main bearings, new rod bearings, new rings, etc. Put it all back together and into car - and WITHOUT serpentine belt (and accessories) - the car starts fine. I hear a tick-tick-tick coming from the head - but I think that is oil pressure that needs to build up the lifters. But since I don't have fan/water pump connected - I didn't let it run long (30 seconds or so). Timing all good - multiple checks.

Now, here's the crazy part...
Just as soon as I connect the serp belt - to drive the accessories (alternator, ps pump - water pump) - car won't start. I can leave all parts connected, but just remove the serp belt - car starts right up. But with serp belt - no start. It
cranks, it sputters once or twice, but will not start up.

Two questions:
1. Could a timing issue be the tick-tick-tick that I hear when the car is running without the serp belt? Could timing be 1 tooth off and still start/run?
2. If timing was off (say, by a single tooth) - but it doesn't start with "load" from serp belt being connected - but then would not start with serp belt?

Just don't see anyway that a car that starts without the serp belt (and accessories it drives) would start without serp belt - but wouldn't when serp belt is connected???
All accessories spin freely. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[casey.d.felton]

It would still start if time was off by just a little but wouldn't run very smooth. Test your battery , it could be weak and doesn't have enough juice to turn all of that extra friction. I don't yhink your issue is timing though.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G870A using Tapatalk

[rick.cook23]

Thanks for the reply, Casey.
I was thinking the same thing, charged the battery - but had the same results.
I tried something crazy...

I took it all apart again, and re-installed the timing the belt - this time - applying the belt to the bottom of the crank, then the intermediate shaft, then the cam.
Leaving all slack on the tensioner side. There are youtube videos showing both ways - I had not tried it this way yet.
Then, I held the serp belt tensioner loose while I had my wife start the car - started right up - just as it had in the past.
Then I slowly released the serp belt tensioner - and the car idled a bit more slowly at first - but then made it's way back to a normal idle (about 900rpm).
After that, it starts right up every time.

So, I don't know if it was the re-install of the timing belt OR the serp belt tensioner trick. My money is on the re-install of the timing belt - must have had
something off by not even a tooth somewhere. Either way - it's working now!!