Had timing belt replaced at 100,000. Car ran fine for 10,000 miles after replacement. Last week check engine light came on and occasionally car would surge when stopping. Read error code P0012 - Camshaft Position - Timing Over-Retarded. Took car back to the mechanic who changed the belt. He downloaded latest software version into computer which did not fix the problem. Mechanic said it could be the hydraulic cam pulleys but cannot confirm without pulling engine apart. Is it possible the timing belt was not installed properly? If so would there have been an immediate problem with the car instead of 10,000 miles later? Could the belt have slipped causing this problem? Any help would be appreciated

 

Unlikely that the install was incorrect for the reason you state. Also unlikely that the belt slipped or jumped a tooth. I'd bet it's either a failing cam sensor or a cam chain tensioner that's going bad (both of these affect the intake cam).

 

i'd bet the timing belt was installed incorrectly. I've seen a 3.0 one tooth off and run fine, i've also seen them one tooth off and run like crap and throw faults.

With that engine, its hard to say that it could or could not go 10k before throwing a fault.

Its alot easier and makes more sense to check the timing before doing anything else.