So bear with me.. OK a lady who has a '99 Legacy SUS sedan had what she thought was the timing belt done.. I got contacted because the car runs rough now.. I check under the belt cover and noticed the timing belt was NOT changed and just the idlers and pulleys changed and the old belt put back on..

 

Timing was about 4 teeth off on both sides.. OK so I go in and put the belt on and line up all the marks.. I noticed the drivers head as some valve ticking which I suspect the other guy rotated both cams in the same direction..

 

So after getting the car started the idle was pretty high like 1500K and ended up going normal or so.. but clearing the code later had it come back up as a pending code..

 

So now upon starting the car again the idle was bouncing from 1500 to 2K every 3 seconds or so non stop..

 

I assume it's the IAC that needs to be cleaned.. but get this the guy used RTV to seal the intake manifold..

 

Now I have the code for the knock sensor and P0507 which is about the idle too high, I assume the rough idle (when it does idle) is due to the knock sensor?

 

I already ordered the sensor but I was just curious.. and crap I just forgot I have a brand new spare in a padded envelope.

look for a displaced IACV hose that goes under the intake.

 

maybe squirt some brake cleaner around the intake manifold to find a vacuum leak? or get a vacuum gauge - it might help show a sticking/bent valve if that's a concern.