timing belt issues

[kgerm3]

I have a 2001 protege and I replaced the timing belt today 3/18/2012. After replacing the car was running very rough. we checked it again and reajusted the timing and made sure it was on. After putting everything back together again I take it for a drive and it does the same thing. I was like jumpy and almost felt like a backfire but didn't make a super loud noise. Could it be a spark plug issue?


PLEASE HELP!!!

 

[JReichle1]

Are you sure the timing was perfect? I had to do my timing belt 3 times. The First time i did not set the cams right, the second time the belt was too tight. The third time bought an OEM Mazda timing belt and it ran smooth. What kind of belt did you use?

 

[Jspeed17]

Yep its gotta be exact, and make sure the slack in the belt ends up on the tensioner side, then you release the spring tensioner to keep it tight.

 

[kgerm3]

I bought the belt from the Mazda Dealer and it was "Gates" brand... We did the timing belt the first time and it was driving rough just as it is now. The notches were inline with eachother and we double checked it.

When we took the valve cover off the spark plug was stuck in one of the tubes that are on top and connect to them... Could that have broke and is causing misfiring?? There is no "check engine" light on currently.

 

[kgerm3]

It's not running rough constantly, it's pretty random. majority of the time it's when I'm going slow like 20 mph and accelerate and it jerks. That's what I mean by running rough

 

[JReichle1]

I bought the belt from the Mazda Dealer and it was "Gates" brand... We did the timing belt the first time and it was driving rough just as it is now. The notches were inline with eachother and we double checked it.

When we took the valve cover off the spark plug was stuck in one of the tubes that are on top and connect to them... Could that have broke and is causing misfiring?? There is no "check engine" light on currently.

Sounds like one of the spark plug leads from the coil pack might have been damaged. you can check that yourself visually. Just pull out the coil packs and spark plug wires. Take out one spark plug and use it like a feeler, plugging it in to each coil pack lead and spark plug wire. you should feel it snap into place. if one feels loose you need to replace the wires or boots...

 

[kgerm3]

I think I will replace the whole set up of wires. do new wires come with the "boots"?

 

[Jspeed17]

No. Boots are usually a separate purchase

 

[kgerm3]

put new wires on and fixed the problem.wires came with boots 34.74 at oreillys.

 

[JReichle1]

Nice, I am glad everything worked out...