Strange behavior after timing belt change

[Mihkel Jahu]

I have 2003 1.4l Ford Fusion. It’s not the US Fusion, but the European one. Basically a Fiesta with a different body.
I had the timing and auxiliary belts changed some weeks ago. After picking it up from the garage, on the way home it started stalling when coming to a stop or on low speed turns after getting up to speed (first time it happened was on a tight turn in heavy traffic, not fun to suddenly lose power steering there). As the garage had already closed, I drove it home like that, starting it up after every stall. Restarted without a problem.
Called the garage in the morning and told them to come pick it up. In the evening they said the car was fine and that they hadn’t changed a thing. The only explanation they could give me was that maybe the timing belt had been changed previously and wasn’t done properly, so this time it took the car’s computer time to learn the cam/crank position. To me, that’s hard to believe, AFAIK you have to set the timing tools before even messing with the belt, so they would’ve known the timing was off… Were they not telling me something?

The car doesn’t stall anymore. But, I don’t know if it’s related or not, the idle seems to be a little jumpy. It fluctuates just slightly (I mean less than 100rpm) and I can feel a vibration coming and going, especially through the brake pedal when stopped. I’ve suspected vacuum leaks before, as there’s a hissing sound from the engine, don’t know if it’s normal or not. This might have been present before, maybe I’m just more sensitive after the belt problem. I do know they didn’t change the RH engine mount nuts as the Ford procedure would require.

Also, when revving it very suddenly, there’s a “choking” sound for a brief moment. Sorry can’t describe it very well, will try to make a recording. Giving it gas normally, it revs up smoothly. There’s also no check engine light.

Any ideas?

Topic

[Charles]

Sounds like it could be a vacuum leak. If you can hear the “hissing” with the engine running, see if you can identify the source. Could just be a hose off or something broken.

[David]

The leak would explain the stalling, surprised the garage did not find it if one hose is off.

[Mihkel Jahu]

All the hoses seem to be connected. If there is a vacuum leak, it would have to be a small crack. But the stalling issue is no longer there. What baffles me is where it came from in the first place.

[Author]

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