Rough Running after Timing Belt Install

[kpaske]

Vcrossfan - You're absolutely right - the instructions you used never made mention of the left side alignment marks on the crank shaft pulley. A little bit confusing when compared to the Isuzu shop manual, but as I said before, I think if you flip the belt upside-down, it would line up correctly that way. The actual mark on the crank shaft pulley is very hard to see, but it's there. As you can see from the diagram above, #8 is a blow-up of the marks on the belt, showing where they should line up. The stock belt has a dotted line instead of the Gatorback's double line, but other than that, everything else is identical.

Just an update for you guys... I took it to a local repair shop, where they've torn it down and put it back together several times. They can't figure out the problem either. They're telling me that all three cylinders (1,3,5) are NOT firing. They've got spark, they've got compression (190 lbs I think they said), but nothing is happening on that side. Can anyone here explain that one??? I'm baffled...

[Dare2Dream]

This is probably not much help, but maybe you should just try the OEM belt to reduce any 'possible' doubts with the gatorback. Obviously, gatorback has worked fine for others, maybe you just have a fluke!

[VCrossfan]

Good Idea Dare2Dream..I did have a friend that installed a non-OEM timing belt (not sure the brand) and the timing/alignment marks on the belt weren't even close. It was several years ago..but it does happen...

[thedutchguy]

They've got spark, they've got compression (190 lbs I think they said), but nothing is happening on that side. Can anyone here explain that one??? I'm baffled...

Place your finger on the injectors to"feel" if they're working. So that you're sure you've got fuel.
If you have: compression, spark and fuel it has to be a timing issue.

[psychos2]

THIS INFORMATION BULLETIN OUTLINES THE PROPER STEPS TO INDEX THE CAMSHAFTS WITH THE CRANKSHAFT FOR VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DIRECT ATTACK DOHC 3.2L / 3.5L V6 ENGINE. IN THE EVENT THAT CAMSHAFT TIMING HAS BEEN DISRUPTED, DUE TO TIMING BELT BREAKAGE OR CAMSHAFTS / CRANKSHAFT BEING ROTATED WITHOUT A TIMING BELT, THIS IS IMPORTANT PRIOR TO TIMING BELT INSTALLATION. *TT
Make : ISUZU Model : VEHICROSS Year : 1999
Service Bulletin Num : SB0014S001 Date of Bulletin: FEB 01, 2000
NHTSA Item Number: 614146

i found this in a previous post. this is what i think the problem is.the cams are not indexed properly. if you sign up for alldata you can get the info you need.it is 24.95. or try to get info from a isuzu dealer. shawn

[mbeach]

I couldn't find that SB at any of my (usually very good) sources.

I did find a number of references to "valve damage" in the event the camshafts and crankshaft were rotated independently. It's odd that valve damage can occur in a non-interference (free-running) engine however.

I also found some high-quality images of the correct method of 'capturing' the belt tensioner during timing belt replacement. I'll cross-reference my method with those methods already used in kpaske's efforts.

[kpaske]

I looked up that TSB/NHTSA item number (614146) at the NHTSA web site, and it refers to the Child Safety Seats.

Make: ISUZU
Model: VEHICROSS
Year: 1999
Type: ANY
Service Bulletin Number: SB0014S001
NHTSA Item Number: 614146
Summary Description:
AMERICAN ISUZU MOTORS INC. IS PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THE AVAILABILITY OF TOP TETHER CHILD RESTRAINT SEAT ANCHOR BRACKET KITS FOR CERTAIN ISUZU SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THE USE OF THIS ANCHOR BRACKET MAY BE NECESSARY WHEN INSTALLING CERTAIN CHILD SEATS, WHICH REQUIRE ANCHORING TO THE VEHICLE WITH A TOP TETHER STRAP. *TT

This is actually the one I think you meant to direct me to:

Make: ISUZU
Model: VEHICROSS
Year: 1999
Type: ANY
Service Bulletin Number: IB00S005
NHTSA Item Number: 614139
Summary Description:
THIS INFORMATION BULLETIN OUTLINES THE PROPER STEPS TO INDEX THE CAMSHAFTS WITH THE CRANKSHAFT FOR VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DIRECT ATTACK DOHC 3.2L / 3.5L V6 ENGINE. IN THE EVENT THAT CAMSHAFT TIMING HAS BEEN DISRUPTED, DUE TO TIMING BELT BREAKAGE OR CAMSHAFTS / CRANKSHAFT BEING ROTATED WITHOUT A TIMING BELT, THIS IS IMPORTANT PRIOR TO TIMING BELT INSTALLATION. *TT

I'll pass this info on to the shop working on my VX and see if they can get the information. Worse case scenario I can shell out the cash to NHTSA and get it myself. Maybe this will solve my problem once and for all. Thanks Pyschos2!

Mbeach - Can you give me some more info about this valve damage you speak of? That seems odd to me too, as I've always heard that even a timing belt breaking at 60+ mph cannot cause damage to a non-interference motor.