Infrequent Blip Following Timing Belt 1998 V70XC

[rasense]

Greetings all,

1998 V70XC 233K miles

I did my timing belt/tensioner/water pump about a month ago and since then I have noticed a slight blip very infrequently when both cruising and at idle. I drive about 15 miles each way to work, and it happens MAYBE once on the way to work or on the way home, but not on both, just to give an idea of frequency. It runs great at other times, and the blip is barely noticeable when it happens, but I do notice it.

I haven't pulled the wheel off to re-crank and check timing, I am positive that I had the timing correct when I installed the belt. This morning I pulled the timing cover off to do a quick inspection of the timing and was able to get the marks to be towards the top by starting the engine for a minute and shutting off, but not exactly at the notches . As is sits now, it looks like one mark is three teeth away from the notch and another is three and a half (the half being the low point between the teeth). It's a little difficult to see because of the perspective.

I only adjusted the tensioner when I did the replacement, I know that sometimes a tensioner re-adjustment is necessary, and temperatures have changed here since I first did it.

My questions are:

-Could this be a tensioner adjustment issue? OR
-Do I need to take the belt off and realign the cams with the notches? OR
-I know timing is super important, but is this half a tooth that big of a deal if I can deal with the infrequent blip for a little while until I have the time to redo the timing? (i.e. long term damage--doesn't seem like it is off enough to cause much damage in the short term, but maybe I am wrong for long term)

Thanks in advance for answers.

[1998v70xcbill]

I get a blip as you describe. Very infrequently. Have had it since I had car (52K miles). (half a second miss). I don't know what it is?
No codes.

[abscate]

First - a notch or two won't cause engine damage. i doubt a notch will cause a running issue either, so i would look at your ignition parts - cap rotor wires plugs coil - for cause

There is no substitute for getting the crank on time, then checking the cams - takes about 30 minutes with white-out.

[misha]

...i doubt a notch will cause a running issue either...

Yes it would.It would idle too low,would like to stall and it would be a delay in acceleration.Fuel consumption would be a lot higher,but it would not run visibly rich.

I know that because my mechanic coincidentally skipped timing for 2 teeth a long time ago when he did timing belt job.Before timing belt replacement i didn't had those symptoms.

After i complained that car ran like cr*p....he re-checked timing and it was 2 teeth off.
After correction....everything was back to normal.

[precopster]

I'm a little confused. You have a 1998 XC70 yet you mention adjusting the timing belt tensioner so does that mean you have a mechanical tensioner with the temperature arm?

There were some 1998 S70s and V70s which were over a certain engine number to qualify for the mechanical tensioner so I just wanted to be certain.

If you have an automatic tensioner which needs to be compressed in a vice or clamps and has the grenade-style pull pin then there is no adjustment.