Rough Running after Timing Belt Install

[mbeach]

It really just added up to "...failure to follow these instructions can lead to valve damage..."

Sounds weird to me too.

[kpaske]

Well, the TSB solved the problem. Thanks again to Psychos2 for bringing it to my attention.

A word of warning to anyone who attempts to replace their timing belt by themselves... I don't know if this problem was resolved in the 2000-2001 models, but apparently the Timing Belt Replacement procedure outlined in the Isuzu Shop Manual can create this problem. While the manual states that you should remove the timing belt and rotate the cam shafts and crank independently, the TSB explicitly states that this SHOULD NOT be done. The end result is having to remove the heads and realign the gears to reindex the cam shafts. Neither the mechanic nor the Isuzu technician he spoke to could really explain why this happens, but the bottom line is if you are going to do this yourself, the marks should all be lined up by rotating the crank BEFORE the belt is removed, and NOT rotated again until the new belt is back on and tensioned. I know some others have had success doing this themselves using the manual procedures, but I know I followed the directions correctly and it wound up costing me several days of my time, the cost of the parts, plus over $300 to have this mess fixed. You've been warned!

[Joe_Black]

Glad you got the problem solved! Just goes to show, we all can still find more to learn.

[Dare2Dream]

Yep, glad to see you get through the nightmare!!

[VCrossfan]

WOW...I got lucky...I rotated mine several times with the original belt still in place,Verified the belt was in the correct location (in time) removed the old belt and reinstalled the new one without moving anything. Thanks for the headsup and great to hear your on the road again....some of these post (like #45 and more) should be in the "how to" reminders....

[mbeach]

I'm not usually "that kind of guy" but I just have to point this out:
I told you what was wrong, and what you needed to do exactly 8 days and 32 posts ago.
We can't sugarcoat every answer -be mindful of that fact whenever you (anyone) asks a question here. Sometimes the answers suck, but at least they are answers.

[kpaske]

Mbeach -

Yes, you nailed it, 8 days and 32 posts ago... However, call me stubborn, but I didn't feel like you adequately explained how you came to that conclusion, which is why I continued to seek out answers. I'm not the type of guy, who if he can help it, will throw in the towel the first time he doesn't understand something. Unfortunately, I'm still not sure I understand the problem, but at least my VX is back on the road. Maybe your explanation was great, but I honestly didn't get it, considering the fact that I followed the manual's instructions to the letter. Am I a fool for wanting a second or third opinion before shelling out a few hundred bucks?

I did get the mechanic to give me the printouts of the TSB with the procedures for reindexing the cams, in case anyone ever runs into this problem again. When I have the chance, I'll scan them in and see if I can post them on the site, or put links to them on my web site. While I usually prefer to learn from other people's mistakes, this time hopefully someone can learn from mine.

[mbeach]

Thanks for being so gracious Kyle, my post really didn't have the tone that I would have preferred.

It's just nuts that the instructions that you were provided were SO wrong. That's really a problem. This thread should be cleaned up and stickied in the How-To section.

If the manual was wrong about the timing belt -what else could it be wrong about?