Engine Idles Great, then Dies...Help!!!!

[footdale]

1998 Jetta GL, auto, 73k miles
Yesterday I changed the timing belt, distributor cap/rotor, plugs and wires. Check timing after assembly and everything lines up great. The car starts up great, smooth idle, normal rpm but the check engine light is on. The distributor cap wasn't aligned 100% at first so there was rough idle and gas smell. Reinstalled and fixed that problem. When I put it in gear, the engine dies.

When I turn the ignition to the "on" position (not start), I hear an unfamiliar whining noise from the throttle body. After 20 secs it stops, but starts up again when the engine is started.

Last air filter change I must not have put the vacuum line (l.d pump line?) in the clips proberly and a hole was burned in it from the alternator pulley. Car ran great as normal for a few weeks until the timing belt change.

Looking for some insight.
Thanks,
Joe

[boschmann]

Does the flywheel have both a "V" notch and a small, hard to see "O" to line up with the transmission housing pointer? The V notch is for ignition purposes, the O is for timing to the camshaft. Have you checked the code?

[footdale]

Checking the code tonight. I tripple checked the timing and it looks fine. If the timing was off, I think I would definitely hear it in the idle. I don't work on VW's alot so I didn't know if this has happened before or not. Thanks for the reply.