Timing belt issues then vacuum leaks

[PTBarnumCruiser]

I bought a 2004 2.4 automatic non turbo PT at an auction and with a new battery cable, sparks, wires, ignition coil and cam sensor it was good to go for awhile. I didn't know if the timing belt had ever been changed so I figured since it was past due I had better have it done since I hear bad stories about them breaking. I bought the kit with the tensioners, water pump etc.
Driving it the next day it's stalling out at stop with a low idle. The mechanic swears the belt was set correctly and just adjusts my idle higher so it won't stall. It works just not as smoothly as before. It starts sending the error code for multiple cylinder misfire sometimes. A friend of mine has a theory that the Chrysler timing belt kit can be installed on a PT or if you flip the tensioners a Crossfire or some other Chrysler I forget which. So maybe this mechanic did that, has anyone heard of this? Is it more likely just a belt notch off?

Despite that it was running yet then I got the P0456 error code for a small vacuum leak. It idles almost to stall but doesn't stall and acceleration is choppy and laggy. I can't detect it, the gas cap is fine. I tried spraying carb cleaner around to see if it got sucked in somewhere. I replaced the purge valve, but nope. So I had another mechanic diagnose it and he claims he used dye and found a crack in the lower intake manifold. It for sure sounds like it's sucking air somewhere but I can't feel or see the crack and he says he would have to take the lower manifold off to show me. So I skipped his $500 repair offer and took it off myself and I find no cracks in it. The lower gaskets look fine the upper ones are questionable. Could just gaskets make it so bad?

[chuzz]

I don't know from personal experience, because I have a turbo and your's is n/a. BUT I have read that some misses on the n/a engines seem to have been cured by replacing the intake gaskets. Since you have it off, I'd recommend you just put new intake gaskets in. They don't cost that much and MIGHT solve your problem. Oh, and welcome to the forum. You might want to go to the new members section and introduce yourself.

[_PTGT03]

the idle speed is NOT able to set manually. the computer has a target idle speed and varies the idle air controller motor to set it. being that the story from the mechanic is bullshit, i would start questioning whether the job was even done correctly because he should have the car in running condition prior to what you had when it was brought in.

[cfm56doc]

My money is a cam sprocket is n off by a tooth. First time I did the timing belt I had them off by one tooth and it would start but you had to feather the throttle to keep it running.

[WrenchnIswhatIdo]

Originally Posted by PTBarnumCruiser

I bought a 2004 2.4 automatic non turbo PT at an auction and with a new battery cable, sparks, wires, ignition coil and cam sensor it was good to go for awhile. I didn't know if the timing belt had ever been changed so I figured since it was past due I had better have it done since I hear bad stories about them breaking. I bought the kit with the tensioners, water pump etc.
Driving it the next day it's stalling out at stop with a low idle. The mechanic swears the belt was set correctly and just adjusts my idle higher so it won't stall. It works just not as smoothly as before. It starts sending the error code for multiple cylinder misfire sometimes. A friend of mine has a theory that the Chrysler timing belt kit can be installed on a PT or if you flip the tensioners a Crossfire or some other Chrysler I forget which. So maybe this mechanic did that, has anyone heard of this? Is it more likely just a belt notch off?

Despite that it was running yet then I got the P0456 error code for a small vacuum leak. It idles almost to stall but doesn't stall and acceleration is choppy and laggy. I can't detect it, the gas cap is fine. I tried spraying carb cleaner around to see if it got sucked in somewhere. I replaced the purge valve, but nope. So I had another mechanic diagnose it and he claims he used dye and found a crack in the lower intake manifold. It for sure sounds like it's sucking air somewhere but I can't feel or see the crack and he says he would have to take the lower manifold off to show me. So I skipped his $500 repair offer and took it off myself and I find no cracks in it. The lower gaskets look fine the upper ones are questionable. Could just gaskets make it so bad?

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[PTBarnumCruiser]

Originally Posted by _PTGT03

the idle speed is NOT able to set manually. the computer has a target idle speed and varies the idle air controller motor to set it. being that the story from the mechanic is bullshit, i would start questioning whether the job was even done correctly because he should have the car in running condition prior to what you had when it was brought in.

I watched the idle stall after his timing belt change then he adjusted the throttle and it raised it to not stall. It ran rougher and has misfires but improved.

Originally Posted by cfm56doc

My money is a cam sprocket is n off by a tooth. First time I did the timing belt I had them off by one tooth and it would start but you had to feather the throttle to keep it running.

That was true after the timing belt change but he adjusted the throttle and I didn't for a long time then the vacuum leak came up and it went close to stall but won't stall.


Reading through this old post may explain my original problem at least something I never knew of or tried. 2002 PT Cruiser fine till getting timing done
"Use a DRB® scan tool to perform the camshaft and crankshaft timing relearn procedure"

[Vengence]

Why does this sound like a/multiple bad valves to me? It may be possible that you have bad/burnt valves and losing compression.....badly.