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Rough Idle or Stall after Broken Timing Belt Change

K

kazamali

New CEG'er
Joined
May 15, 2013
Messages
7
Location
San Jose, CA
99 Contour with 2.0L VCT, Automatic

Hi everyone, I'm sure this has been talked about ad-nauseum, but I just went thru a timing belt install after it snapped.

I followed the instructions here (twice) using the ford cam and TDC locking tools:

http://www.contour.org/ceg-vb/showthread.php?52739-VCT-Zetec-Timing-Belt-Replacement.

The first time, I didn't try to reset the VTC gear. the second time I did, but same symptoms.

After buttoning it all up, the car is barely keeping idle, stuttering and about to stall (it will simply spin up and stall on cold start unless I pepper the gas for a few seconds). The car runs fine at speeds above 20-25mph...only when I come to a stop am I seeing issues. It rarely stalls once warmed up, but it shudders bad.

I'm getting no codes (pending nor posted) via my computer scan tool. I replaced the MAF, cleaned the IAC valve just in case, but no joy.

-Did I miss something when I did the procedure above? I.E. Did I not perform the TSB (aligning the VTC hub properly? would that cause these symptoms? I figure if the crank/cam is misaligned, the car wouldn't run well at ANY speed? The tools kind of prevent this, so I'm stumped.

-Is this a vacuum leak I may have created when working the timing belt install? Would a vacuum leak cause THAT bad of an idle? I've heard rough, but this is REALLY bad.

I want to make sure I'm focusing on the right area before I tear it all apart again. Any pointers would be appreciated. I've read some other posts, but nothing directly addresses a busted belt situation.

Thanks!
 
I know when we did my T-belt and it wouldn't idle at all it had misaligned cams. but we also used a wrench instead of the alignment bar to hold the cams:crazy:
 
Yeah, I guess I may be tearing it apart again. I think I'll do a quick propane test and make sure there are no obvious vacuum leaks as I'm getting a lean code now (it threw that before all of these TB stuff happened but idled fine).

I'm still thinking I did something wrong with the exhaust VTC hub alignment/reset since it's running horribly at idle, but I'm reading conflicting reports on the site whether this alignment/reset is necessary or not.
 
Ok, I think I figure it out. Open spout on the back of the throttle body, but no hose in sight to plug it to. Plugging it up levels the idle out nice. Now what the heck goes on it? Here's a picture

WP_20130517_001..jpg
 
There is a vacuum hose that goes on there. Did the same thing with my brothers focus when I did his timing belt. Couldn't figure out why it wouldn't idle, then I noticed the line not hooked up.
 
Thanks, but do you know to where the other end of the vacuum line would go? I can't find a dangling hose anywhere in the compartment. I'm wondering if it's supposed to just be plugged and the plug just wore off over time?
 
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