I just replaced my t-belt this weekend. Everything was great before...but now my car idles like crap. well, it's not bad idle...more like my car shakes a little while sitting and waiting at the light. But once a give it some gas, the shake goes away. Any clue?
Also, my car doesn't start out as hard any more. From a cold, my car used to rev up to 1500+rpms...but now it barely gets up to 1200, but the engine still turns over and idles normal?
Any suggestions? All the marks are alligned...but please give my some input!

TIA

sounds like a belt is off by a tooth, even when marks line up the belt can be off a tad.

Yeah I bet you if you run it around a few times looking at the timing marks, you will see it's prolly off by 1/2 a tooth or something stupid like that. The timing on these cars can be trickey. Before you go pulling t belt stuff again though see how it does for a little while. The idle rpm thing is normal it will fluc. as far as the shaking, how about the motor mounts, how did they look when you did the work? Did u put in inserts?

I think I know what U're talking about, it's not a bad idle... just different. Mine was & still is the same way. I've actually taken my timing belt off & put it back on 3 diff times just 2 make sure (yeah, I know: took me a while, but a good learning Xperience)

Basically, it sounds different cause it's idling lower. Whereas it used 2 idle (warmed up) @ ~800rpms, now it idle's just over ~500rpms. I think it actually sounds better anyways, no probs here :thumbsup

P.S.
Not really sure Y this is so, but again: no probs here :)

- J

my vote - one tooth off. sorry

so, you guys think a tooth or so off would make my car shake a little? but as soon as i give it some gas, my car stops shaking. my car idles at a constant rpm...

unless you didn't torque down the engine mounts well enough, yup

That's why I said check it first. The flexing on the other motor mounts from jacking the engine up and down may also be part of the problem. If it's just a little shaking I wouldn't worry too much about it. I assumed that you ment because of the new rough idle you have a shake.

>That's why I said check it first. The flexing on the other
>motor mounts from jacking the engine up and down may also be
>part of the problem. If it's just a little shaking I wouldn't
>worry too much about it.

about the flexing on the other motor mount...could that cause it to mess up? are you talking about the side engine mount thing or the motor mount that's in the front and next to firewall? I did re-check the side engine mount, they seem to be on pretty tight. I was just wondering because while its sitting still its just shaking like a mofo, but just a tab of gas would make it smooth as hell. strange???

ps I'll try to check the other mounts too

Well a stab of the gas changes quite a bit. The motor will move a bit when you hit the throttle. Also it could just be the way it is. My idle was always a little rough (shaking). But the tightness of the mounts is not the only thing that can make it shake. If there is a tear in the rubber it can take away from the mounts ability to do the job. Basicly from what your saying I wouldn't worry about it. Also like the other guy said ^^^ is it idling at a different RPM?

>Basicly from what your saying I wouldn't worry about it. Also like >the other guy said ^^^ is it idling at a different RPM?

I think it is idling around what it was before... like ~800rpm. i just never experienced it shake this bad...but, thanks!

Ok, I misunderstood... I didn't realize your engine was shaking while @ the same idle. My idle is lower now, dunno Y, & there4 sounds deeper/lower/kewler ;)

Best of Luck!
- J

I did notice one thing yesterday. I can see my needle fluxuate slowly...just enough to notice that the needle is moving. like between ~800 to ~825rpm or something. I understand what you are saying about it isn't a biggie... but I just never experinced that the car shakes "HARD" while sitting still and runs smooth as hell while moving. but, the car sounds pretty good so, I guess it can't be a BIG problem. Thanks guys!!

ps Hey J, just because you're in FL doesn't mean that you car wont back fire again..hehe...j/k!:P

U mean the stutter I take it, well....... I'm hoping not since it's been great 4 what, 6 months or so now? Hope all is well!

- J :P

hey my car is doing the same thing. after you sit at a light for a while, the rpm needle will shake a little and you can hear the exhaust kinda pop. the car will shake some, not much. i can hear the engine sort of stutter and so does the exhaust, like somethings clogged. (injector?) it goes away after i give it the slightest bit of gas. it gets annoying after a while. i think something on mine is clogged because soemtimes my starter will just keep going and not turn over for like 3 or 4 tries.