Engine timing slip.

[Dylo]

Hi Guys,

I had this strange probem the other day where my engine went overnight from running fine to running like a dog. I thought it was a vaccum leak initially but after much investigation found the engine timing had slipped from 10deg before TDC to firing 1st at TDC! The dizzy was tight so i have no idea how its managed to go so far out that quickly. Its a 1GGTE running standard ECU.

Anyway i re-timed and it was going better than ever, but the other day I just started driving and it totally died, no spark anywhere it seems.

Does this somehow sound realated? What could be going on?

Cheers,

Dylo

[JustCallMeOrlando]

When you found the timing was out, was the dizzy moved? I know you said it was tight, but if it was out, it had to have slipped.

I think if the dizzy slips all the way (sorry, from memory) it can retard itself enough for it not to want to run. Perhaps get a new nut for the dizzy, and use a little loctite or something similar.

[Dylo]

No im pretty damn sure it didnt physically move! The nut was tight and i couldnt turn the dizzy at all by hand. But how else could it go out of time? Unless some sensor has chucked it in?

[oldcorollas]

loose dizzy internals? what else controls the timing? if they are driven off cam, has cam slippped a tooth? (unlikely i know but)

[Squid]

Is the dizzy rotor cracked and not pointing the right direction?

[sillycar chick]

Speaking from experience, if there is play in the shaft in the dizzy, your timing will be up to shit. It would pay to check little things like this (wriggle shaft side to side from memory) and as check for cracks etc as squid mentioned. Good Luck!

[mullett]

Could be that the shaft internal of the dizzy has lost a tooth off the drive sprocket. This shouldn't happen, because they're pretty tough...but it's a bit of a conundrum. So now the car won't run at all? Have you checked to see where the timings at? If I were you I'd pull the dizzzy off and make sure that there's nothing loose or badly worn inside the dizzy and associated parts. Do you still get a spark from the coil? If not it could be the signal to the coil has given up, I'm not sure if this is controlled by the ECU or something else on the 1Gs

RM.

[Dylo]

Yeah i should check the timing belt, thanks.

Also i checked the Coil. Its getting one 12v feed and two other 5v feeds into it, but when i try to ark out a plug lead i get no spark jumping. Im thinking it could well be the coil, (HOPE!) That would be an easy fix. Im getting tempted to hold onto the bastard and see if i get a good zap!

dylo

[mic*]

Was gonna say sounds like could be unrelated issues. Now i think that even moreso. Timing belt could be stretched / forked and jumping teeth???


The coil - Go on. Hold it tight. Splash a bit of water on your bare feet and the ground too... In fact, do it with your mouth...

[mullett]

hahaha...just get the coil lead and earth it to a bit of bare metal in the engine bay as you turn the engine over. Make sure you're holding something very well insulated at the time. Hold the lead about 1cm or so away from the bare metal, and see if you can see a spark jump...

RM.

[Dylo]

Problem found guys.

Should have checked as it was an obvious one. Busted timing belt! I'd say the reason it ran like a dog initially was because the belt was giving up and slipped or was cracked and skipping teeth.

Thanks for all the ideas!

Dylo

[o_man_ra23]

Now for the reason it ran so well after you initially re-adjusted the timing... When the belt slipped, it retarded the timing on the camshafts (possibly only one) which would have altered the nature of the motor. From memory, it should have altered it so it would be a bit more doggish down low, but screamed greatly up top (or other way around??) Either way, good to hear you got the problem sorted now... perhaps you may want to think about adjustable cam gears and dyno tuning after seeing such a difference from the slipped belt??

Cheers, Owen