c20xe won't tick-over

[Courtnova16v]

I Changed my cam belt and did the timing so all the timing marks lined up. The engine will start but won’t tick on its own and clearly didn’t sound right, It was making a loud knocking noise. So then did the timing by putting a screw driver in the plug closest to the cam belt cover and timed it that way. Engine will start and sounds fine but still won’t tick over on its own and cuts if you rev it around 3000 rpm on the move. Seems to be better in reverse gear. Any ideas?

[Adam]

Are the timing marks aligned?
Sounds like its a tooth out or something

[Paul]

as above

[Courtnova16v]

Timing marks are not aligned. But the engine sounds better than when they were aligned, thats what I can't get my head round.

[hendrix]

hmmm sounds like when we bent a valve on our cally.
Problem was we thought we had aligned the marks but for reasons unknown after running it for about 30 secs they had become unaligned and bent a valve

[Adam]

How far out are they?
You may have bent valve(s), meaning when you put in on std marks its running rough

[hendrix]

Thats my thoughts Adam

[Courtnova16v]

They are quite away out. Could it also possibly have after market cams that are cause the timing marks not to line up?

[Courtnova16v]

Any ideas?

[AlanH]

i know its a bit late now but usually a good idea to check how the timing lines up before removing the belt. sounds like a bent valve to me too tbh, if its due to cams could be worth investing in a set of adjustable vernier pulleys for finer adjustment