QuestionI recently put head gaskets on a 96 concorde. But for some reason it will not start. It started once but I realized it was out of time. So I took the cover off and sure enough the right cam was off a few teeth. Now I have both cams lined up and the crankshaft TDC but it will not start. Any suggestions? Am I setting the timing wrong?
AnswerHi Gary,
Are you aware of the detailed procedure for installing the belt and the tensioner (it is described in the Haynes and the Chrysler shop manuals, see below)? You might want to take another look at the timing to be sure that you do have it, and that it hasn't shifted off a few teeth because of the shifts in position that occur when you finally released the tensioner. If you haven't touched anything related to the cam/crank sensors since it last started then I can't think of any reason for it not to start now except that it really is not timed properly. Just in case you may want to verify that you are getting spark, that the fuel pump is humming for 1 second when you turn the key to the run postion, and that the cam shaft sensor is pulsing when you turn the engine by hand with the ignition "on". Also, try checking for fault codes using the ignition key: on-off-on-off-on and leave on, doing this in an elapsed time of 5 seconds or less. Then count the flashes of the check engine light.
Just in case, here is the timing belt install procedure:
"So you will need to compress the tensioner in a vise and retain the piston with a nail (or pin) in such a manner that the nail head will be facing out when you reinstall the tensioner.
Then align the crank sprocket with its TDC mark and the mark on the oil pump cover matched.
Then align the camshaft sprockets with their marks to be centered in between the two marks on their covers.
Then install the timing belt, beginning at the crankshaft sprocket, going in the counter-clockwise direction. After the belt is installed on the right sprocket (the first sprocket you will be going around from the starting point) keep tension on the belt until it is past the tensioner pulley.
Hold the tensioner pulley against the belt and then install tensioner into the housing and tighten bolts to 20 ft-lbs.
Then pull the retaining nail (pin) and allow tensioner to extend to the pulley bracket.
Then rotate the crankshaft two full turns by hand with a socket and handle and check that all the timing marks on the three sprockets are still in alignment."
I hope this may be helpful to you. Please let me know when you figure it out.
Roland
