I recently had my timing belt replaced, and ever since the car dies when I put it in any gear. The weird thing is it only does it when the engine is cold. If I let the car warm up a few minutes, all is good. No check engine light is on..car runs smooth otherwise. Any ideas?

The car did not do this at all before I had the timing belt done.

 

Maybe they missed a connector or something, or maybe one pulley is a cog off on the belt. Does it make less power now, even though it runs smoothly? That would indicate a pulley one tooth off.
Have you taken it back to the shop that changed the belt and asked them about it?

 

Idle learn procedure?

If it was a tooth off you would know it.

 

How much did the job cost you? Dealer?

 

It was done by a local shop of which I am good friends with the owners and mechanics. They are aware of the problem. Paid $626 for the job total (parts&labor).

The car makes plenty of power..I really dont think its a tooth off.

Im starting to think- is it possible I could have gotten some bad gasoline? My wife drives an Odyssey and she is having the same problem the last couple of days. We both fill up at the same station.

How many cycles does it have to go through for the idle learn?

 

Its supposed to be done before driving. How many miles have you put on it since the work. Try starting it up Put it in gear without moving and let it idle till the rad fan comes on. See if that solves it.

 

Ive driven a couple hundred miles or so since the job. I tried what you mentioned yesterday after work, I swear that car will idle in gear forever before the fan comes on. Never came on..Ill try it again today.

She died on me again this morning. Also-Its really hard to get it to want to start after it dies. I have to put my foot on the accelerator.

 

If you have a couple hundred miles on it it should be fine by now

 

hmmmm...well Im at a loss then. Any other suggestions or should I take it back to them? I really dont want to be without the car while they scratch their heads over this..lol. Im hesitant to take it back actually-they had the car 2 weeks when I had the timing belt done.

 

The mechanic from my buddies shop seems to think that he may have adjusted the valves too tight and that might be causing it.

 

That makes some sense.
If that's true, it'd be a good idea to get them readjusted soon.
You could burn a valve if they are staying slightly open. That might not be a big deal if you don't drive it hard until you get it fixed.

 

Two weeks for a timing belt and valve adjustment? WHY?? Red flag numero uno!

 

Cause they fugged up when installing the belt-it was a tooth off and bent 4 valves in the process...2 on each head.

Took the car in last night. They re-adjusted the valves today and I got her back. Started fine and idled fine when I picked it up. It was fairly cold outside and the engine was completely cold, no probs. I guess we shall see...

 

Thats why I threw up the flag. Kinda figured that. Best of luck to ya! Hope it works out.

 

well, Ive been driving it all weekend..car is doing fine. My mechanic said that the lash wasnt off by much at all-guess these motors are finicky about being spot on and that was causing my problem.