very low fuel economy after timingbelt change

[astrix151]

Hi,

I had recently changed timingbelt of civic 97. After some 10000 miles, average of the car has went down from 30 Mpg to 20 Mpg.

Does timingbelt have anything to do with it?

What do I need to get done on car's engine to get average high again?

Thank you.

[GScivic7]

have you noticed any other problems with your car besides the bad gas mileage?

[astrix151]

There are other problems such as no acceleration at sometimes especially during city driving. Car just stays at same speed and does not pick any speed. And steering vibrations at 60+ Mph.

Thanks for reply.

[eckoman_pdx]

Your timing could be off; you could have put the belt on wrong. If you don't line the teeth up right and you put the belt on wrong, the timing will be off. One of the big results of a belt installed wrong like this is....lack of acceleration and pick up, amoung other things I am willing to bet you didn't line the belt teeth up properly when you installed it. As I said, if you mis-algined it and instaled it even 1 tooth off, lack of acceleration and other bad things occur due to the wrong timing.

[astrix151]

Does it mean I have to open everything up again to fix it?


Any possible considerable damage to engine that I need to be looking at.

Thank you.

[eckoman_pdx]

Originally Posted by astrix151

Does it mean I have to open everything up again to fix it?


Any possible considerable damage to engine that I need to be looking at.

Thank you.

If the timing belt is off like suspected, then you'll have to take it off and put it on so the timing marks are all lined up correctly, etc. Basically slip it off and re-install it the correct way.

[keifhomeless]

ya thats it..same thing happend to me,i especially noticed the power loss from 2nd to 3rd....got the belt adjusted and it ran fine....