Just had my timing belt and spark plugs done as well as 105,000 service early, but have noticed more engine noise on idle in drive and also now using 21+litres on average when I got a constant 11.6? Should I be worried??:kb:

sorry make that 12+litres! whoops

yeah when i had mine done, had a noticable tick so they took it back into the workshop for 10mins and voila, fixed. Not sure what it was something about the belt not sitting properly.

fuel consumption had also jumped condierably, but after a 2000km round trip soon after its been good ever since. When you say "constant" 11.6 is the city or highway?

Yeah my noise is a noticeable tic (louder than usual lol) and from inside the car you can notice what sounds like the belt going round each cog. I took it back last Wednesday and they said it was okay but if it gets louder come back? These guys have been really good to me over the years but it was a stand-in handling it last Wednesday. He did mention tappet noise which I thought was odd. My mechanic friend mentioned
the teeth may not be sitting properly or out one tooth! 11.6 was my average city or suburban use. short distances stop start etc.

Hi Navaar,
I think I have a reasonably good BS detector between my ears and I think u might be being fed BS.
I only have recently bought a ES series 2 so this stuff interests me.
My undersatnding of the drive belt, is, that it is changed by the clock, because. if it breaks in service, a piston crashes in to the valve thats down. So when a belt is changed it is IMPERATIVE that the cam timing is MAINTAINED CORRECTLY. IF the timing is out, then maybe a piston is JUST touching a valve. If it was my car, I would be getting the problem RESOLVED AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
I find comments such as 'belts riding on cogs' is just f*****g crap. Modern manufacturing is not about some jokers perception of how a light globe works; it is about precisely manufactured components and conformance to specifications.
And as for 'tappet lifters' These things went out with button up boots and got replaced by hydraulic lifters; need NO adjustment; make NO noise. Now I'm convinced my BS radar is working.
The fact that fuel consumption has increased almost GUARANTEES a timing problem.
I'm on your side and I hope this helps.
rumpfy.

Belt doesn't make any noise.
I've seen one post on another forum where a freshly installed belt on a BMW was making a whine, but that was way overtightened.

I booked the car in this Wednesday but today when I started the car it seemed even noisier? I noticed after waiting a little while that the RPM was stuck on 1500? Didn't drop down to the usual idle speed? I turned off the engine and it readjusted itself to normal idle but the engine light came on. when I got to work I rang them and told them and arranged to have the car seen to after work. On the way there as I turned onto the highway it went straight into limp mode! (40/50km). To me it seen=med even noisier than before and of course I shit myself as I thought this is it. I limped to the service dept. and waited on the result. I thought the worst but after 15/20 min they came back and said it was my battery. Apparently it was throwing out all sorts of codes. I said to the guy thats interesting but it still doesn't account for the louder engine and accompanying noises along with extra fuel consumption plus the vibration in the steering wheel on idle in drive? He said the timing belt would not cause a vibration in the steering wheel? so I will be taking the car back for the day on Wednesday.

So here are my symptoms since the belt and platinum plugs change plus the 105,000 service.

Vibration in steering wheel when idling in drive (not extreme but it wasn't there before?)
louder engine noise in cabin
Noticeable increase in ticking outside the car or with bonnet up
Increased fuel consumption from 11.5 to 12.2
louder exhaust and engine especially on acceleration
Sporadic missing
What appears to be a loss of power some times
Change down at low speed.

If the battery is shot then it just may be sending random codes and throwing the engine out of whack?
What does anyone think? Would appreciate your opinions.

There WILL BE an explanation for all of this. So wait till wednesday and get the facts.
Remember that IF there is a timing problem, the computer wont pick that up directly but it may cause other parameters to go out of their normal range and these abnormals will be reported. This could maybe cause someone to say "could be the battery". I'd be happier if someone said "I'm not sure but I'm going to find out".
In the diagnostics, it is unlikely that they are fully programmed for all, and/or any kind, of faulty assembly. So if the drive belt replacement has been done so t hat the timing is out, then how can such incompetence be recognised by any computer. That what I'm saying by 'wait and get the facts'.
pr.

Well dropped my car off all day today and they could not find one thing wrong with it? In fact they even made the comment that 380's at this age are like this? To which I replied well it wasn't like this when I put it in for a $1000's worth of work 5 weeks ago?
All the symptoms that I have posted recently brought the reply "none of these symptoms are connected in any way to the work we have done. in particular the timing belt"? The battery came up at 80% but they still said it was more than likely the reason for the limp mode happening?

Look I may be wrong but I would have thought that new plugs, timing belt and service would amount to better performance not worse???

I would really appreciate some feedback regarding this situation before the standard 3mth warranty on parts and labour elapses.

hydraulic lifters; need NO adjustment; make NO noise
They can stick and make a ticking noise especially if lax on oil changes etc and of course age which should not be a factor here with only
105K.........
Timing has to be quite a few teeth out to have valves touch pistons and engine most likely will not run at all then.
With your louder exhaust you may have a small leak there somewhere and they can often make a ticking noise especially around the exhaust manifold and this may also be a cause for the slight economy change.......it is ever so slight so no biggy.
Ticking might also be a loose spark which would explain the missing you commented on...........
Few things to look at and cross of your list. Goodluck!! Vee

Thanks veeone. Yeah it hasn't even reached 105,000 yet I had it done early because I was doing the belt and plugs. The age thing is a silly argument anyway as the car was better and smoother beforehand. Saw a frightening post in the general forum where the mechanic did a 2007 due for its 105k and he changed belt and plugs but found bolts missing and loose? If it wasn't for his pride of work they may have remained that way. I'm just not content on accepting that it is some coincidence thats why I am after opinions on here relating to others that may have had experiences like this.

Timing belt will make no difference to performance, plugs done at correct time might make minor but barely noticeable

To find the cel issue you need to plug into mutIII and get correct codes, the 380 is surprisingly accurate in the stored codes and can tell you a lot

Ticking, could be the recirc valve is a very common thing with 380's and often after it has been disturbed when removing the manifold this can start to tick, many dealers have been caught out with this and could also explain the economy shift as well

No use asking for guesses here as no one here has plugged the car in for a scan to get the real codes so any guesses are just that

found bolts missing and loose?
Lost count the number of times i have lifted a bonnet and found tools as well as removed parts left sitting where a mechanic has put them!!
Loose things is also common........quality control is a dying art!!Vee

Starting to piss me off now as the car is starting to resemble my old 1990 commodore wagon when I accelerate also the cabin noise too. This car was quiet when idling at lights and only made noise when I'd give it a nudge sometimes. My old 2007sx was the same quiet and smooth. I just find it so annoying that they can find nothing wrong no codes suggesting anything and they tell me thats what 380's sound like?? What sort of line is this anyway when you know your car and you've had two of them that it can instantly age with a service? Make that an expensive service. I'm starting to wish I had taken the risk and not got the belt changed! I know I know its not logical in the big picture but hey when your cars sound and fuel consumption ages 15 years in one service.....

So why not drop past here for a second opinion some time? You keep going back to the same place, I have heard and driven more 380's than there are probably members on AMC which own them so at least I can have a listen and drive and who knows, perhaps I can give you some direction to a possibility?

Not much help I know but my wifes magna was whisper quiet until I had the timing belt changed.
Sounds like a traction engine first thing on choke. Gets quieter when warm. Took it back twice and they could find nothing. A definite vibration from somewhere

So why not drop past here for a second opinion some time? You keep going back to the same place, I have heard and driven more 380's than there are probably members on AMC which own them so at least I can have a listen and drive and who knows, perhaps I can give you some direction to a possibility?

Sounds like a plan Madmagna, trouble is your on the other side of town to me, but worth the effort! I have to be in North Fitzroy next Thursday round 3:30 and taking the day off work so would that be a possibility?

Absolutely no reason for a 6G engine to sound or act differently after a belt change. Something must have gone wrong, possibly the ancillary belts were not tensioned correctly on reassembly? They can set up a vibration and drone at about 1200 to 1400 rpm until the belts warm up. Just a wild guess without seeing the car involved, though.

I did a cam belt change on a 6G74 and got the drone, tightened the belts and it was quiet. Recently replaced the ancillary belt idlers on the same car and the drone came back. At least I know how to fix it now.

Anyhow, someone who knows what they are on about needs to listen to the car to identify what went wrong. Go see Mal.