I helped my nephew change out his t-belt in a 03 Protege 2.0. When we checked the timing marks, one cam had turned slightly so we re-did it all to get the marks right and rotated engine 3-4 times to check marks again. After getting it all back together, the initial start up was fine but when he started to drive home it kept dying at stop signs/lights. I removed the IAC valve which was clogged. I cleaned the valve and the car idled but it is rough and has a thick gas smell coming out the exhaust. The question I have is that the cam pulleys were not exactly straight across.If I was to put a straight edge across the pulleys, the marks would be just barely below the edge.Manual is not exactly clear on this. I have changed belts on Hondas and Mopars and the manuals stated that the pulleys should be straight across where the head meets the block. Also I got the crap shocked out of me from one of the plug wires. Could this be a big issue also? I have some 8mm Accel plug wire. Can this be used?

 

seems like you changed the belt right and all. also yes the wires are fine...but there must have been somthing else you did. if it just keeps dying

 

well i had a 2.0 and i had the same problem...the problem with mine was that a vacum line for the throttle body had came loose and fell off so i waould check all the vacume lines

 

well i had a 2.0 and i had the same problem...the problem with mine was that a vacum line for the throttle body had came loose and fell off so i would check all the vacume lines

 

Problem solved. Timing was jacked because each cam gear was off by one tooth. Rotated front cam clockwise and aft cam counter clockwise. Gears were then completely straight across. Cam tensioner spring was also disconnected because we streched it to far on initial belt installation. Plug wires were changed also. Weird thing was that there were was carbon track marks on the plug where the ceramic meets body.