As mentioned in another post, I have just replaced the crankshaft (timing) gear on my 97 2.5v6 Sebring...
On the way to work tonite, it was missing/bucking and carrying-on, with no power, surging idle/dying, the whole nine yards...

The timing belt is only a few k miles old, but Im beginning to suspect that I may have needed to replace it again with the new gear... It went together pretty well, but not quite as easy as I would have believed...

After work in the morning I will confirm that the timing has not 'slipped'... (cam AND distributor) but if it is not that, I fear 'the dreaded head gasket' issue my be rearing its head.

Which reminds me... with the 'interference engine' design this thing has... can this engine survive being off one tooth either way? My thinking says no, but I dont know the clearances well enuf to be definitive...

Any thoughts anyone?

 

Found out that the timing WAS off.... by 3 notches!
Fortunately it seems that it did NOT cause any damage, and once I retimed it today, it has been behaving fine!

Lesson learned?

USE A LIGHT to see what you're doing, EVEN IN THE AFTERNOON!

particularly if youre nearsighted like me!

and...

If it sounds funny, CHECK IT AGAIN even tho you checked it twice!