Changed the water pump on my 98 and when i finished the car now idles like crap. loping real bad. Im thinking that the cams are not centerlined properly....does this sound about right? and if so how do i set the cams correctly?

 

the best thing to do is to buy a manaul like hanes. It will show you exactly where you need the timing marks at TDC (top dead center)

 

Your timing belt is off a tooth. need to pull the cover and reck. Hope you didn't use a impack gun when tighting the cam sprockets ?

 

i never pulled the cam sprockets. Im thinking i didnt set the cams correctly.

 

Did you replace the water pump and the two idler pulleys? If not take the time to do it while you have it apart.

 

if the cams are even slightly off, then your car will run like ***....you always need to make sure they are aligned properly

 

look at the cam gears their should be a mark on each gear. put the left mark one ridge higher the the right one, then also have the crank gear back 3 ridges. after everything is set up right on the car the crank gear should match with the arrow and the marks on the cam gears should line up as well together in the middle.

 

o yeah i foregot make sure your valves arent bent from the pistions hitting them if they did.