I did the timing belt on this car. The way i did it was by the method of haynes manual. Basically have engine set to tdc. Loosen tensioner bolt 180degree, crank engine forward 3teeth, then tighten tensioner bolt. My question is when i did the timing belt i basically replaced everything but the spring. If that spring on the tentioner didnt pull back on the tensioner hard enough, because it may have been stretch due to being old, when i cranked the engine forward 3 teeth on the cam gear, can my belt be to loose due to the spring? or is the tention set on the belt related to only moving the belt forward 3 teeth and not effected by the spring (For example, if ur spring was stretched/old and u turned the engine 3 teeth it would set the belt just as tight as a new tighter spring when u rotate the engine 3 teeth forward)? Also, if i take my upper timing cover and check the belt, is the 90Degree belt twist a good call for if the belt if the belt is to loose? should u check your belt tightness at TDC? because if the belt is stopped anad checked at different parts of the engine cycle, the belts tention will vary.

 

really would like to know the answers to my questions

 

Any help on this issue?? i d really like to pull the top cover off today before it gets dark and assess the tightness.

 

did you tighten the tensioner? if so i dont think u would have a problem. ive never replaced the spring on cars i have install timing belt before and they are still running. IMO if you install everything right u should have a problem.

 

You can a deflection gauge and measure the tightness of the belt. You press down on the belt with this thing and it has a little spring in it, and however much it moves, you read it out of a little scale to the side.

They definitely sell the tensioner pulley and spring assembly as a wear item part at Advance. If for some reason your tensioner pulley is kinda stuck, maybe residue or some kind of corrosion (?) the I think no matter how loose you loosen the holding bolt, maybe it wont tighten up the belt. Or if that spring is worn worn worn out somehow. I guess the pulley bearing can go bad too.

 

Yah i did tighten the tensioner. Of course i did that. Are you sure? i have to do a bunch of work on my car anyways. I m going to pick up a new spring and new tensioner while i m at it ( the belt, waterpump, etc all have less then 10k on them) and re tention the belt with the new spring.

if i get a deflection gauge, how much deflection should i expect on a properly tightened timing belt? i m going to get a new spring and re tighten the belt. What position to measure deflection in? at TDC?

 

Isn't this all in your manual?