After timing belt and head gasket done the car will not run, starts easy but fades out over about a minute, very little throttle response. There is a timing issue, on full cas adjustment can only get 30'btdc. Fuel pressure good, tps set ok, spark ok on all, compression is ok but not great, hopefully improve once run in. Injectors seem to be firing ok. Conzult suggests it's rich and shows the timing out but no other faults. Im confident the timing belt is installed correctly. Not sure where to look next so any ideas would be appreciated.

Have you stripped the front down again and checked all your timing marks? I know you've said you're sure it's correct but I'd be taking the covers off and checking again. 

Fair point Lexx, that's maybe the next job.

I agree would check again, there is a write up from Jeff somewhere saying how to check turning the engine over manually so many times to make sure it’s right, also the enGine has to be up to temperature before you can check timing with conzult.

Edited October 8, 20223 yr by Bones28

Not getting much time on it but got the covers off and timing belt is fine.

Wondering if anybody has had an issue with the variable cam timing? strikes me that if that was faulty and open it would be advancing the timing even at idle to a similar degree I'm experiencing.

Faulty solenoid, incorrect cam install, wrong torque settings maybe?

I dealt with this issue only last week.. 

Faulty CAS unit most likely, try a replacement unit if you've got one. I have a few spare CAS units that i have Rebuilt i could sell you one for £50 posted.

If its not that then it could be damage to the exhaust camshaft drivepin, either physically damaged OR twisted in the camshaft (its only pressed in).

Failing that aslong as your belt is on correctly then your heads have been milled & not compensated for and you'll never set it right

As already mentioned it wont be able to set the timing properly until the engine has warmed up, you can idle at 30 degrees so find out why its dying out and go from there

 

Thanks T, spare cas tried, interesting about the drive pin, looks OK from the end and seems to align with the notch (is it meant to). Heads all factory and timing was fine before I pulled it apart, new head gasket supposedly oem. Currently looking for vacuum leaks as started thinking the same, that the stall/ lack of throttle response might be unrelated.

It HAS to be your drive pin or they are both faulty aslong as your sure the belts on OK.

So look you either have 2 faulty CAS units or your pin is messed up. When you insert the sensor in the D shaped pin on the end is just to guide it onto the actual spline, Try pulling it a few MM keeping the sensor on the alignment pin but not actually on the splines, then attempt to relocate it on another pin.

To check if the pin has rotated inside the camshaft - The flat part of CAS drive pin in the exhaust cam should be inline with the center of the dowel pin, with the D section being on the left side when looking at it from the front of the engine.

Sounds like it may be a fuel issue, have you checked your injectors are spraying properly?

I did refurb the injectors and rail so possible somethings gone wrong  I'll go there next. There is play as you insert the cas, not sure if it's enough for a full notch but will find out when it goes back together, D seems aligned, not many other options.

Thanks again.

Did anything ever come of this? Mine Z is having very similar issues after doing a timing belt

On 03/10/2024 at 03:07, Bustymatty said:

Did anything ever come of this? Mine Z is having very similar issues after doing a timing belt

It was a silly mistake in the end, the connector on the ptu, despite the little tabs had gone on the wrong way.

Or it was a vacuum leak, had both it's a while ago, not sure what resolved what.