M103 Engine Timing
 

Hi All, I had a seriously blown head gasket on my 300TE. After nursing it along for sometime, I had no choice but to get dirty, and replace it.

Since the engine has 100k on it, I also replaced the timing chain. Now that I have it all back together, it barely runs, and sounds like a 2 cylinder volkswagen!

An ideas?, I thought this was related to engine timing, but according to my tech CDs, books, reading etc, I seem to have it right? The crank is set at OT, and the pin on the cam is aligned with the timing mark, and it's all in sync with the timing chain, with all remaining true after revolutions.

What gives?, I have to be missing something somewhere, I am just not sure what?

Thanks - William Torres

Well, if it runs at all it cannot be too far off! However, verify that #1 is indeed at TDC when the two valves on #1 are closed, it may run 180 degrees out!

Check to make sure you have the plug wires on correctly -- if you swap them around it won't run right. Will give you a VERY hot catalytic converter and serious mixture problems, too!

Also, if you pulled the wires off instead of using a long pair of needle nosed pliers or the MB tool to remove the wire ends from the plugs, you need a new set of wires, they are broken at the end connection and you have terrible spark.

Make sure you don't have an idle control valve hose off or something, too -- a big vac leak makes K-jet run horribly. Ditto for not connecting the computer to the vacuum tap or leaving a temp sensor wire off.

Peter

M103 Engine Timing
 

Thanks for the super fast reply!

How do I know if the valves are closed?

By pulling the valve cover and looking at the cam.

One thing doesn't sound right though:
The pin on the cam should be on the passengers side of the engine. What you do is align a mark in the cam (on the boss right behind the timing gear) with that small "finger" on the front of the cam bearing bracket, THAT's what is aligned with the crank at TDC, not the pin or dowel on the front of the cam. It is also possible the cam gear is on incorrectly, it can go on different ways to adjust cam timing.
Gilly