The car had overheated while idling on an otherwise cool day. A fan on the cooling system had not worked for ages and this hadn't happened so I thought maybe the water pump had failed - and it was about due for a replaced timing belt. I started it up later and it ran fine (smooth, etc). I did the following:
1) Replaced the plugs - it was long overdue. 2) Replaced the valve cover gasket... starting to seep. 3) Replaced the timing belt. 4) Replaced the failed cooling fan. 5) Replaced the lower timing belt cover - old one cracked trying to put it back on.It sat without running for about a month. Started the motor and it ran rough and at first it made a taping noise like a little oil starved. Now just runs rough like misfiring.
Plug wires look fine.
I had used the mark near the crank gear. The cam sprocket has both lines AND a hole that had been lined up. I did take it off to replace the slightly leaking oil seal, but put it back on and lined it back up before installing the belt.
I had rotated the motor 2x and the timing marks had stayed in line. MAYBE the belt is a little tight. NOW I can't see the TDC indicator on the cover unless I take off the AC belt. By the way, the TDC cover mark was accurate - when I'd removed the cover the mark on the case was perfectly aligned too. So in all likelihood is the problem that I somehow was off by a tooth on the timing belt?
I need to get this car in good running shape for my son in Chicago who is starting teacher training this summer (before I move from Dallas to Tucson, AZ) HELP! Thanks. KWW
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