Possible timing issue

Hey all,

I just brought my 1998 CE Lancer (4G93) with 105 000kms on it. The previous owner had just had the timing belt done+ Spark plugs etc.

I notice it has a slightly rough idle on cold starts, as I can feel the seats/floor/steering wheel vibrate. I check under the bonnet and the motor looks fine.

after driving it for a few months, it now drops in revs on first start up (cold) to about 500rpm for about 3 seconds then bumps up to 1100rpm.

I suspected it to be a tooth out on the timing.

But there are no timings marks on the top one. I have uploaded photos.

That looks like someone has marked it on the top, which is a tooth out. but the timing mark on the actual cam shows degrees out, which is not what it is meant to be looking at the timing mark photos from the manual.

Any help please?

Thanks

I just had a closer look now, is this where the white dot/arrow should be?

MitsiDriver said:

I just had a closer look now, is this where the white dot/arrow should be?

Click to expand...

Yup, that's where the upper timing is/should be. You'll need to use a straight bit of metal or ruler to see if the marks line up between the head and the cam. The angle that it's on means you'll pretty much never read it without error by eye only.

On another note, your issues are possibly not timing belt related. Weird idle conditions could be brought about by a host of things, but from experience I'd look at possible air mass faults first (failing maf, air leaks, pcv faulty ect) if the timing is okay

Edit, I hope that sharpie line is a coincidence and that no one ever made up their own timing mark to work off...

I don't what the heck that sharpie line is for, maybe counting? like SDate42 said, the second post with the single pic is what they should have gone off , it looks like you are 1 x tooth out with the timing.
Common problem with timing being out is erratic idle up and down when cold, after the engine warms up the computer (ECU) will adjust and compensate for the timing being out (Groundhog day after that)

I have seen similar issues at work because the belt wasn't done right.

I went straight for the timing first because, the Asian I brought the car from said his mate did the job.

It was one tooth out, I have just re set the timing today. So far it is much smoother and i did notice it to be a little more responsive too.

See how we go tomorro morning on the first start up

Ok good, thought it was that, what you described / symptoms and idle issues when cold pointed to timing out 1 x tooth, hopefully it all be good after this fix.