Valve Timing Off ?

[JDK52]

First time posting here....

I recently purchased a 2006 PT Turbo with 106K miles.

Did the timing belt replacement last weekend as a maintenance.
Was relieved that the car started....and thought all was well.
Also replaced plugs and wires (Champion at 50 gap.)
I have been working on other things, like the brakes and heater vent cable and did not drive the car yet. It is still up on the jackstands.

I fear my cam timing may be off.
Today, after letting it warm up I noticed that the engine starts to fall off after about 4000 rpm. The car is in neutral and this happens with a gentle application of throttle.
Seems like the Turbo wastegate may be opening, as the engine is not under load. If the car was being actually driven - Might that make a difference?
But it is not happy after 4000rpm.

As the car is new to me, I had not previously reved the engine in neutral with it's original timing belt, but had driven it up to 5000 rpm and it was smooth.

So - any thoughts? Can someone reassure me that the cam timing is the fault?
Sure seems the motor should rev smoothly past 4000 rpm - turbo or not.
Has anyone else experienced this relative to cam timing being incorrect?
Thanks for anyones experience with this matter.
Just a little worn out and disappointed tonight.
Tomorrow is another day, and it looks like I will be revisiting that timing belt.

[ptcruisersteve]

4000 RPM PT Cruiser Park-Neutral Rev Limiter!

[rckstein]

Welcome to the forum

[LionPT]

Spark plug gap is too big, set it to .43.

[JDK52]

Thank You for the quick response.

There is always a learning curve with a car.
General knowledge only goes so far.
Thanks for not hazing the new kid.

ptcruisersteve
It is a great relief to learn about the rev limiter being a factor.

I was not wanting to revisit the valve timing. Downloaded my picture record of the timing belt replacement. The timing marks in my pictures sure looked aligned.
If I had gone back in and seen that the timing was correct - I would have not known what to next suspect.

I will put the wheels and other bits back on and give it a go tomorrow.
Thanks to your help I will be able to sleep tonight.

Rckstein -- Thanks for the welcome.

LionPT -- Will take your advice, just adding that the plugs I removed had been in long enough to open to 70 !

Much appreciation for the help tonight.

JK

[rckstein]

Originally Posted by LionPT

Spark plug gap is too big, set it to .43.

Is the plug gap the same on the NA and turbo?

There's a sticker on the radiator support:

[JDK52]

The test drive proved all to be well.
Pulls smoothly all the way to the shift points.

Thanks to all who helped.
As soon as the rev limiter was explained to me it all made sense.

What a relief.

--------------

As a point of interest - The original timing set in this car had a very week tensioner and the belt had visible minor cracking.

So glad this maintenance item is taken care of.

[NitroPT]

Welcome to the forum

Actually independent testing using an oscilloscope with the OEM coil best spark plug gap single electrode spark plug is .042.