qhs002

I have 96 lexus es300. With the help of a friend, I changed T-belt and water pump. After we put everything back, I drove tested the car and I realized that the car lost some horse power. It barely makes it to the top of a hill. Also it does not run as smooth as it used to.
Please advise

Thanks in advance.

xxxavier2k

Did you ensure that the crank/cam tming was accurate when the belt was put back on?

Pheonix

Cam timing is off. Time to do it all over again.
On a side note... They'll run OK with any cam, or sprocket 2-3 teeth off, so you're waaaay off.

Could be a vacuum leak too.

Maxx941

iTrader: (1)

Exactly what I woulda said

qhs002

Thanks Gentlemen for your reply.
We tried to align the crank/cam timing by aligning the marks. I must say that once we aligned one, the other one goes off alignment. But I think we did the best we could. Are there any procedures I can use to make sure these crank/cam timing is done right. It is no fun to do it all over.
As far as vaccum leak, I don't see any losse tubes under the hood.

Thanks

xxxavier2k

I'd say turn your crankshaft until the crank timing notch lines up with 0 on the timing plate. You'll be at TDC there. Remove your valve covers, insert a service bolt into your camshaft gears (the ones under the covers) and remove the cam bearing caps. (see your online ES300 manual for the sequence) ensure that you replace them with the timing marks (little dots on cam gears) at 9:15. replace your cam bearing caps (in sequence to required torque) remove service bolt and replace valve covers.
Some say that you should do this with the RHS head first then the LHS. I'm not sure if it matters.