I was driving my car around last night and was noticing that my idle was low and rough (800 - 900, usually at 1200). It was like that and rough at idle, but felt fine when I was accelerating. I ended up at a stop light and was idling at about 800 and then when I started to go the car was really bogging down for about 50 feet then just died. It would not start back up. The fuel system is fine and the ignition is also, but the rotor does not spin when I try starting the car. Did my timing belt break, or is it something else?

 

When was the last time you had it retensioned/replaced?

 

I am not sure, I got it about a week ago and was about to have it check out. The last owener seemed like he kept up on maintenance, but he could not remember whenn it had last been checked/replaced.

 

I hate to say this but don't try and start it again, at least untill you can ensure that the T belt didnt break. SOunds like it did. Sorry

 

How can you see the rotor doesn't spin? Did you take the cap off? If you did, and have 24mm socket, put the car in neutral and rotate the crankshaft manually - very slow and in small-small tunrs. Make sure battery is disconnected and the key is out of ignition. You should see the rotor rotating if not, check the rotor mounting to the shaft - a little screw. If rotor is fine, it is your timing belt and it is time for a new engine!

BTW, normal idle on the car should be between 800 and 950 rpm. 1200 is too high.

Thanks.

 

[quote] BTW, normal idle on the car should be between 800 and 950 rpm. 1200 is too high. <hr></blockquote>

That's what I was going to say. Hey, if it's the TB that's gone that's always an excuse for the 968 3.0L engine upgrade. That's the bright side, of course. On the down side, I'm sorry for ya if it is the TB. Maybe you just ran out of gas?

-Matt

 

afx: that doesn't sound like a timing belt to me, if it's going to go the engine will stop very quickly. Alternatively if you would like to see if the belt is broken you can do so without removing the distributor cap. There is a hole near the distributor cap where you can view the camshaft gear. I wouldn't use the starter to turn the engine over, use a 24mm socket on the crankshaft bolt and turn it a little, you won't have to turn it much to see if the belt is broken. So if it's not the timing belt I would start looking elsewhere for the problem, perhaps fuel delivery. BTW what model/year is your 924/944?

 

Type_LT - I took off some of the front coverings in the engine and noticed that the timing belt was not broken. Fuel is fine, ingnition seems fine. Its an 85.5 NA