Timing Adjustment Needed after Belt Change?

[shackelton]

I just installed a new timing belt, idler & tensioner pulleys, crank, oil pump, & cam seals, valve cover gasket and spark plug tube grommets, front motor mount, accessory belts, distributor cap & rotor, wires, and spark plugs. I confirmed several times that I had the timing marks on the crankshaft and cam pulley correct. Pulling the motor over by hand and confirming that the marks lined back up again). I pulled the distributor cap and confirmed that the rotor was pointing at cylinder #1 when the marks were aligned. I also checked that the piston in cylinder #1 was at TDC with a long length or aluminium tubing.

It starts just fine and runs great, except at idle when in gear. It has a very definite shake that goes away when I give it a little throttle. I also put the emergency brake on and put it in drive so I could visualize the motor, and the motor doesn't appear to be moving much.

Question: Assuming that I have the timing marks on the cam and crank correct, do I need to adjust the timing by moving the distributor? Advance or retard?

Thanks for the help in previous threads..I would not be this far without it!!

[Deep]

Grab a timing light and check it, it may be a little off. The VSV may also need an adjustment.

[shackelton]

I checked the timing and it is dead-on at 10 deg BTDC per the underhood label. I had the proper terminals in the diagnostic plug jumpered during the test. The stumble is very slight; you can hear it if you blip the throttle and it comes back down to idle. It is most noticable while sitting in the car, felt through the steering wheel. I have again checked the plug wiring, the tightness of the plugs and any wire harness I either disconnected or would have bumped in the process of working on the car. Any other suggestions? Thanks.

[shackelton]

any ideas??

[shackelton]

I purchased a new set of wires, cap, & rotor from Toyota on the way in to work this morning and will dump the aftermarket ones I bought from Autozone...to see if that makes a difference.

Can anyone think of anything else? It runs great on the highway...no stumble or lack of power....confusing...

[Camdaddy]

Has this occurred before?

[shackelton]

no, this is since I did the work. considering I did so much at one time, it is sort of hard to tell where it came from.....was counting on the timing being off but since it's dead-on, I am at a loss to tell what it's coming from.

[Eqoistig]

My worn coil caused something like that. Check your primary coil recistance.

[shackelton]

sounds like it's time for some electrical troubleshooting

I will check it out, although I am getting a little tired of working in my unheated garage when it is 10 deg F outside.

[RiCebuRneR206]

Have you ever taken out the distributor? If you have that may mess up firing during idle. To fix it you gotta take it to the dealership and have them check it out because of the EFI system in the Camry's.

[shackelton]

Have you ever taken out the distributor? If you have that may mess up firing during idle. To fix it you gotta take it to the dealership and have them check it out because of the EFI system in the Camry's.

No I haven't removed it. What does the dealer need to do? Nothing in the Haynes or Chilton manuals about special circumstances requiring dealer help if the distributor is removed.

[88 LE]

Originally posted by RiCebuRneR206
Have you ever taken out the distributor? If you have that may mess up firing during idle. To fix it you gotta take it to the dealership and have them check it out because of the EFI system in the Camry's.

Please explain why this is so.

[RiCebuRneR206]

I was talking to Ray Meek at Burien Toyota in Washington. And that's what he told me. He said that if you remove your distributor from your engine, that it messes up the EFI system in your car and it has to be fixed by some computers at the dealership. I don't know why but I just believed him cause he's worked on the Burien Turbo System for the 5S series.

[88 LE]

Originally posted by RiCebuRneR206
He said that if you remove your distributor from your engine, that it messes up the EFI system in your car and it has to be fixed by some computers at the dealership.

Bullshit.

I've removed my distributor numerous times and the only thing I had to do was check the ignition timing.

[shackelton]

I've removed my distributor numerous times and the only thing I had to do was check the ignition timing.

OK, so if the timing checks out OK, what should I look for next?