lliamiskool
New member
Hi all. 2012 sonic 1.8L 5 speed manual with 165k on the dash. I just replaced the timing belt (I think for the first time ever on this car, and my first time too), tensioner, idler pulley, those 2 bolts and crank bolt, seperpentine belt and tensioner, and water pump. When I was putting the new timing belt on it was very very hard to get it perfect so I put a torx bit inside the two gears at the top to rotate just a little bit to help get the belt on. The gears were locked in place and everything, but I used the little bit of play in there to get the belt on. I turned much harder clockwise on the front one and upon the first start up the engine sounds pretty bad. I removed the timing belt inspection cover while it was running and noticed the front cam gear is a bit wobbly as it spins. I mostly cranked on that bolt clockwise when I was fitting the belt so I thought maybe I bent that bolt so I removed it but it was pretty much just a cap and oil came out and it didn't look bent. Anybody know what I should do next? I'm worried I bent the whole camshaft inside the engine. Thanks!