[Apollo-Soyuz 1975]

Got off of work tonight and jumped in the car. I start up and she idles rough as hell for about 8 seconds -- car's shaking, engine's making sounds as if it's bogged down or something -- and then smooths out. Also, I notice that when I accelerate from a stop, there's a slight smoke odor. Is my timing belt jumping around or something?

 

[hurddawg]

Sounds like my 92. The smoke is from oil burning and if you smell it when accelerating that most likely means you have a exhaust leak. The oil is probably burning because of worn valve guides and/or valve guide seals. Another possiblity is that the valve cover seal is leaking and dripping on the exhaust manifold, which burns the oil and allows you to smell it.

Does the car make a loud and obvious tapping sound? Is it only rough when it is cold? Another possiblity for "the bogging sound" could be caused by a worn vacuum advance. But I think vac adv just die and not suddenly work after 8 secs.

If your timing belt is jumping around you're in trouble!