Can anybody please help?

I bought a 1.8 hlx bravo year 2000 with a snapped cambelt!
After fitting a secondhand head,(Cheaper option),the car runs ok but really struggles to tickover.If i rev it and leave it,it will cut out once the revs drop back down!?

Now this may have been like this before the cambelt snapped? or maybe not?

When doing the cambelt timing,(no locking tool),i noticed that there is a bit of ley way in the sprockets on the key.
So does the camshaft sensor rely on the timing to be absolutely spot on in order to idle properly?
Can anyone tell me how to do this?

Any other reasons for the symptons i have?
Any help would be great please!

you need to check the timing.

is the fuel injection system fault light illuminated? (looks like a hose squirting water)

No lights on when engine is running.
The light you describe comes on with ignition but goes out once started!!

if the light goes out it means the ecu is not detecting any faults, which is a good thing. this also means timing is still a good contender.

Is there anyway of getting it correct without the cam locking tool?
If so can you talk me through it please.

jug said:

if the light goes out it means the ecu is not detecting any faults, which is a good thing. this also means timing is still a good contender.

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once you lose the timing it is tricky to correct it without any timing tools once the head is fitted.

do a compression test to see if the timing is actually out, its best to make sure before you attack it.