rotaryguy

my stock '98 3dr has a noisy squeak coming from the left side of the engine (from the pov of the driver). the car has 101k mi on it, so i'm kind of thinking the timing belt is being a noisy biatch since it doesn't sound like typical accessory belt slippage. plus, i don't know when it was last changed, so i should probably get on that.

my question is: when i do this, should i pick up a timing belt tensioner to replace, too? is this necessary, or can the old one be re-used?

should the noise be telling me anything?

i found a good tutorial for this job in the faq thread, but it didn't mention replacing the tensioner, thus my concern.

thanks for any help fellas.

Relic1

the timing belt is cogged, it will not squeak. But since you have 101k on it, replace it and the waterpump.
I had the same tensioner in my old engine for 195k miles and it never had a problem. So I don't think you have to replace the tensioner.

The only thing that can really squeak over there is the waterpump, alternator and belt. (power steering and A/C can too if you have it)