I replaced the timing belt today and ran the car for 30 seconds. The engine sound was normal, but that was short lived. Smoke started coming from the back of the engine near the firewall just below the cover.

Here is what I did: I followed the procedure step by step, I even took pictures of the timing marks before I removed the old belt. While installing the new belt I noticed that the mark on the cam of the exhaust side moved slightly in the clockwise direction. I rotated it counter clockwise and continued installing the new belt (My fault, shouldn't do that).

I noticed there were some marks on the cover from the previous job. They installed Volvo genuine belt.

Did I mess up the car? What went wrong? What could be the damage??

 

you probably dropped some crap on the heatsheild or the downpipe, or you sprayed some oil on it, its just burning off..

It should be fine.

 

Thanks, matt01,

I remember that I placed the surge tank over the engine, it must have dripped.

I still worry that turning the exhaust cam pulley may have messed up the timing. I will leave the car to dry tomorrow and try again.

 

If it sounds ok, run it some more and see if the smoke dissipates. It might be something that will burn off and you'll be good.

 

NP
if it's oil, it won't dry. but it'll burn off without issue

 

did you actually have everything at TDC????

 

Before removing the old belt the marks were lined up. As I was installing the new belt, the exhaust cam moved slightly off. I rotated it back with the belt off. I thought this could mess the timing.

 

Sounds like oil, coolant burn off to me.

Did you replace the tensioner and pulley, water pump?

I have read that these things are the main reason a belt will fail? A bearing goes bad then rubs the belt....and cuts into it....Causing it to fail.

I will be doing mine in the next few weeks, I will be changing all components, my wagon is at 148k.

 

I ran it today for about 15 minutes, it ran well with the usual sound. When it reached normal temp it started tapping/clicking sound that didn't stop until I turned it off. No smoke came out from the engine compartment this time.

 

ipd sells a cam lock tool...$30 bucks, I think I will buy this just to make sure things don't move on me.

Was tapping & clicking...loud..? or faint Like bad lifters? Or low on oil?

The Haynes manual suggests turning motor over 2 times using bolt on crank pulley....to make sure you have it right...ie: no valve contact with pistons.

I can only assume it would not run right at all if valves did hit, even slightly?

 

I turned the motor 2 times using the crank pulley. It turned the same like with the old belt. Not too easy and not too hard.

The tapping was similar to lifters sound but louder. Before the new belt there was very faint tapping at the morning start up that disappears after a minute or two idling.

I will post a video tomorrow.

 

Here is the link with engine sounds

My Volvo850 - YouTube

 

Sounds pretty good to me. Mayby you're just a little paranoid from doing the job. LOL

 

thats no lifter. too low pitched. Sounds almost like a heat shield, but it sounds too consistent to be that.

get the stethoscope out and start prodding around.

~45 seconds you can hear it.

 

If you are using a Fram oil filter you might want to change it out. There have been posts lately saying some Frams will cause lifter noise on start up due to them allowing the engine to drain down even though they have an anti drain back valve.

 

On the Datsun Forum I also visit...They consider it a crime to use a FRAM filter for this reason.....Pay the extra $$ for a quality filter!

EDIT: I stand corrected...even ipd sells the Mann filters for like $5, this will be the only ones I use.
(And I'm lucky enough to be in Portland)

 

Actually if you get a case from most suppliers they good Mann filters actually cost less.

 

yeah they actually do those are the only filter we use in oil changes at the shop MANN.

You can actually see the difference with the paper filters, compared to lesser brands.