has anyone changed a timing belt lately? It's time to change mine in an 03. I've watched a number of youtubes and am handy with a wrench.I couldn't quite tell if I should take the from cowling off and radiator to get started. It looks like it would be a lot easier to get to everything. Thanks

yes, radiator and fan shroud out

Thanks for the quick reply. Should I also take out the front grill?

shouldnt need to remove that, if you wanted to, you probably could, main reason for takin the rad out, it does provide more needed room for an impact gun, and it will avoid damaging it when working in there with the tools.

Just had
My timing belt replaced at a popular shop and when I got the car back it was running rough at lights and when I hit the gas it would barely accelerate. Did they mess up the timing?

hard to say Rusty, yes, there is a chance the timing could be off, but if that were the case, depending on how far off it was, it either wouldnt run, or by running it that way you could cause engine damage. I would have it back at their shop A.S.A.P. for them to give it look over to see if they missed something or put it together wrong. I would even consider having them come to pick it up just to remove any chance of causing damage by driving it back to them. Who knows, maybe you'll get lucky and they either hooked something up wrong, or maybe bumped the distributor off some how.

I did my timing belt myself a few years ago. (15 years experience in the auto repair field.) I took out my radiator to gain extra space.

Rusty, when I put my belt on I had it off one tooth. It wouldn't accelerate for anything and idled a bit rough. Sounds like you may be off just one tooth. I was extremely careful lining up the marks and still got myself a tooth off, LOL. Things happen.