rough idle and inconsistent intake

[coolchu001]

My alternator and AC belt and the power steering broke the other day while driving..... so I have them all replaced. When I got the car back, it ran fine but I noticed that it was louder than normal.... Now 3 days since the new belts were put in, I noticed that the car has very rough idle ( the rpm goes to 800 then to 700 for a split second and jumps up to 800 again). When in park the engine seems to shake a bit more than normal, perhaps i need new engine mounts as well. Since i have an intake installed, I can hear the sucking sound clearly. But the sucking is inconsistent. When the idle rpm drops to 700, I dont have any sucking sound. I think this may be a timing belt slipperage or I just need a replacement. The car has 109xxx miles and have never gotten a new timing belt. I've just ordered a timing belt with tensioners and new front engine mount and torque mount. How much would labor be for just the timing belt and tensioners be??? (I've checked some local dealer's specials -- timing belt installation for $269).

Also would it be a concern if I continue to drive the car as it is now??? I dont want to damage anything further by driving it in this condition. Please let me know if it is safe to drive it so. I have to wait til wednesday for my appointment with the mechanic. Thanks in advance!

[Dj-torn]

You are doing good for ~$270 Some shops around me start at $500 when its anything to do with the engine. As far as if it damaging, I believe so, but im not a mechanic.

Some added help tips for the engine;
- For the roughness of the engine, I would recomend the Auto-rx.com $27
- To clean the intake take some Sea Foam Intake cleaner, found in AutoZone $7
- Also try a fuel system cleaner. $7
Follow the directions on all.

[GaviN]

The installation price sounds about right..

My mechanic recently screwed my Camry up. It idle'd perfectly before to the point where you couldnt hear of feel it running. Now it idle's so rough especially when you put it in gear. I think he knocked the timing off a bit when he was changing 2 of my motor mounts and now he won't admit to it. Two other people also said that the timing seems to be slightly off but theres no way in hell that Im paying to have it re-adjusted since I just changed it 5,000 miles ago !! I do know that I need the bottom rear engine mount which I plan on changing soon, I hope that kind of solves the vibration issue when the car is in gear..

Good Luck with yours cool.

[marc780]

Also would it be a concern if I continue to drive the car as it is now??? I dont want to damage anything further by driving it in this condition. Please let me know if it is safe to drive it so. I have to wait til wednesday for my appointment with the mechanic. Thanks in advance!

Whether you have the I4 or V6, they are not interference engines so the pistons wont hit the valves if the timing belt slips or breaks. I dont think you will hurt anything by driving it awhile.

I think he knocked the timing off a bit when he was changing 2 of my motor mounts and now he won't admit to it.

Gavin i dont think the mechanic knocked the timing off just by changing the motor mounts. Even so, if i were him i would humor you and hook up the timing light and adjust it right quick to keep you a happy customer. Its easy to do. But of course, some mechanics just have a 'tude, so common anymore.
But like i said, he might be right, because i doubt the timing changed when the motor mounts did.

[coolchu001]

Originally Posted by marc780

Whether you have the I4 or V6, they are not interference engines so the pistons wont hit the valves if the timing belt slips or breaks. I dont think you will hurt anything by driving it awhile.

So it's ok to drive the car as is?? even with bad timing???

[marc780]

Knowing nothing else about the car but what i read in your post, I would. I've driven cars for thousands K miles with problems like that, you just gotta know whats a minor malfunction and whats not. If your oil pressure and water temp are ok and nothing mechanical rubbing or hitting usually you can get by for a while!
With one minor footnote, i'd attend to those engine mounts first and foremost so you engine doesnt start banging into something and damage it. (engine)