2002 Miata VVT Timing Belt -- Won't start
 

Friend of mine posted a thread over on m.net hoping for results, asked me to post one up here.


He does timing belt / water pump along with misc maintenance for our club and usually charges 1/3rd what the dealer does.

Hes on his second VVT Miata timing belt. Replaced the belt and water pump, put the car together and it started up and ran fine. Only problem is the water pump had a small leak. Tore it back apart and replaced the gasket on the pump but that involved removing the cam gears to get that backing plate off for better access to everything. Now after putting it all back together, the car won't start.

The intake cam gear will only go on one direction so that has to be correct. Car has gas, all sensors are plugged in, everything should be fine. Just won't start.

He hooked a code reader up and got nothing back from it, but when you turn the ignition on apparently the check engine light blinks 7 or 8 times and I've never seen or heard of a check engine light on OBD-II flashing for any reason other than catalyst in danger from misfire.. :confused:

Ideas?

It is perhaps possible that the CAS plate behind the crank pulley was installed backwards. I did this on my timing belt job, and had to scratch my head for a minute over why the car wouldnt start. Its a simple mistake that i set out not to make and made anyways. :facepalm:

The outer rim of the CAS plate should be facing the block, and the slightly convex center should butt up against the crank pulley, if my memory serves me correctly.

Sounds like the timing is out. I would tear it all out again and recheck all the timing marks.

I'd bet on improperly installed crank sensor wheel too.

Oh shit I never even thought about the timing wheel!!



I checked the crank cog, and both timing gears and they were all dead on the mark. He wasn't sure about the ignition wheel on the crank pulley, he'll try that tomorrow.

Is there a chance any of you might have a good exploded diagram of the entire front engine area? Including that variable gizmo on the end of the intake cam? That would rock if someone did.... I can't find shit online!

Best I can find for the '01+

http://img38.imagefra.me/img/img38/2...2m_aa880f1.gif
http://img37.imagefra.me/img/img37/2...mm_675a23e.gif

Thanks for the help everyone!!

He popped that crank pulley off and swapped the timing wheel around. Fired right up and runs like a champ!!

Saved him a few bucks.. :D

So when can i expect my check? ;)

FYI

The blinking CEL is when you turn the ignition on and don't start the car. It indicates that the ECU hasn't performed all the "readiness tests". This is to prevent someone with a CEL issue from disconnecting the battery and then reconnecting it and driving it to the smog test and passing. You have to drive something like 200 miles under various conditions to get all the tests finished and have that light stop blinking like that. It will reoccur anytime you disconnect the battery.