Just changed the timing belt on my 2008 Freelander TD4. 180,000miles so it was probably living on borrowed time.

Used all the correct procedures – locking pins, flywheel lock etc. Belt change went smoothly. Did all the ‘turn the engine over ten times to set the tensioner’ etc. No problems.

Now that I come to start the car, it won’t start. It will turn over and fire, but then dies and then won’t fire again until the key is withdrawn and inserted again.

My way of thinking says that to fire up, there must be compression, fuel and air – so I haven’t bent a valve changing the timing belt (and I don’t see how I could if it was all lined up and couldn’t move while it was being changed).

I know my throttle valve is worn out and there were throttle valve fault codes but I have taken this off and the valve is fully open, so it isn’t being starved of air due to a stuck closed flap.

I can only think that the fuel supply is being cut by the ECU. But why? I have looked round and can’t see any loose wires to any sensors and as I have said, the only fault codes showing are ones to do with the throttle body.

The rev counter is working when it fires up so it shouldn't be the crank sensor.

Any ideas anybody?

 

Well, I thought I would take it all apart again and start from scratch - and guess what?
It was one notch out.

I guess that I didn't have the tension right on the right hand side of the belt before I tensioned it up and that turned the pulleys slightly.

I'm just amazed that it turned over so easily and fired up with the belt in the wrong position. I guess I've been lucky but you live and learn.