I just replaced my water pump on a 99 z24 cav. When i went to start it the rpm were up and down and the idle was really rough. Also my ETS light was on. What could I have done? I felt like everything was lined up I was wearing about my exhaust Cam because there was a dot on my block and I am not sure if there is suppose to be. I went through my hanley guide while setting it. Could someone tell me what I did wrong and run me through the steps of setting my timing.

Thanks, Swany/

OK,

Here's my guess. The timing chain tensioner often is NOT your friend.
You can have the crank and cams all set up perfect on the marks, Then you release the tensioner and that pulls the chain taking out all the slack and in the process the cams move ever so slightly putting the timing out just a tad. Not bad, it still runs but it doesn't run right.

You need to account for that minute movement when you set the timing marks. I don't what reference manual you used to do this but they all say after you install the chain (or belt) rotate the engine two complete revolutions and check the timing marks again to verify correct installation.
Did you do this?

Dave

am i suppose to leave the crankshaft pointing up when i rotate the 720 degrees or does that not matter cause it was off set a bit?

His point is more that turning the crank two complete revolutions will not only help to get slack is taken up in the chain, but will also allow you to ensure that the engine turns freely with no vale-to-piston interference.

Hopefully you are working with adetailed service manual..



Bill Hahn Jr.
Hahn RaceCraft

World's Quickest and Fastest Street J-Bodies
Turbocharging GM FWD's since 1988
www.turbosystem.com

Let me throw this question out then when it says it should spin without resistance does that mean when the pistons go up as well?

Ryan Swanson wrote:Let me throw this question out then when it says it should spin without resistance does that mean when the pistons go up as well?

If you've got the Haynes manual, go back and verify you did everything correctly. Also go to the section about the timing chain and make sure the marks are properly lined up. When you removed the tensioner it is real easy for the chain to slip off of the crank and upon reassembly be off a tooth or two.

Hopefully no damage was done to your valves, depending upon how far off the timing is.

Did you knock any thing else loose while working?? Make sure all wires and vacuum lines are connected as they should be.

Dave