Hesistation/stuttering at low revs between 1-2K – cambelt recently changed – linked?

[Somnambulist]

My mate has a decent low mileage 182, which has had a recent extensive service with cambelt change, new HT leads and plugs.

He had a stuttering issue before which was trapped HT leads, but these were replaced before the major service. As soon as he picked it up from the garage it started stuttering at low revs between 1-2K. Can't be the leads or plugs as they've just been changed, but could the cambelt cause this if the timing is out?

He took it back to the garage and they plugged it in, but it didn't pick up any issues at all and there's no lights on the dash. Any experience/ideas of what else it could be?

Cheers!

 

[dangerous dave]

It would have to be well out to cause a running problem over lack of power which is the norm..

I'd go spark or injectors.

Injectors are common these days

 

[leeds_182]

Lambda was causing this issue for me.

 

[Matthew]

Who did the belts? Specialist or back street garage?

As Jim said above, worth trying the lambda for a cheap fix

 

[Somnambulist]

He's just been having a look and the garage replaced the lamda sensor behind the cat when it went back, so can't be that. Apparently he can't see a sensor in front of the cat, but I would have thought that'd be standard on all?

It only happens once the car has warmed up, not when cold, so I can't see it being injectors as otherwise surely it would just happen all the time?

It wasn't a specialist that did the belts, just a normal independent, but they do have all the right gear to do it.

 

[Matthew]

If not specialist, take it to one to check the timing. Should have pre and post cat lambdas iirc.

 

[Matthew]

.

 

[dougie172]

check your dephaser pully mine had a stuter and lack of power at low revs but had had a recent timing belt change before i baught it. it turned out the pully was not changed at the same time as the belt(seems a regular acurance on clio sports due to the price of the pullys) so turned out it was the timing advance being on all the time due to the dephaser pully being badly worn that was causing my problems . also makes a slight tapping noise . changed my timing belt and dephaser pully and the car now runs perfect

 

[leeds_182]

He's just been having a look and the garage replaced the lamda sensor behind the cat when it went back, so can't be that. Apparently he can't see a sensor in front of the cat, but I would have thought that'd be standard on all?

It only happens once the car has warmed up, not when cold, so I can't see it being injectors as otherwise surely it would just happen all the time?

It wasn't a specialist that did the belts, just a normal independent, but they do have all the right gear to do it.

Post cat shouldn't cause running issues, would just put your light on. There is supposed to be a sensor there though.

 

[Somnambulist]

Cheers guys! He's spoken to a specialist and I think he's going to go and get the timing checked on it. He did have a new dephaser fitted, so shouldn't be an issue with that. Turns out he does have both lamda sensors and the rear one is new, so other option is it could be the front. Will see how he gets on, thanks for all the input.