Loose timing belt

[Jim Blythe]

Question about Timing belt tensioner in 93 Atx. How much play play while engine off and cold? I am changing VC gaskets and thought since I was this far I would check the timing belt. Belt was very loose when I first removed the top cover but when I turned the engine over by hand to line up the timing marks the belt got tight, I thought no way, that slack went someplace, if I push on the trailing side of the belt it gets slack and I can feel the tensioner relaxing. I think it's shot but I would like someone's input before I tear it down the rest of the way for no reason. This may be the strange clicking I hear on that side of the engine.

 

[sdpatt]

The 3.2L SHO engine has a gas piston tensioner and unless that piston has failed as you fear, the belt tension should be correct. While you rotate the engine by the crank damper, the timing belt in the span between the camshaft sprockets will alternate between very tight and then not as tight. This is due to the different cylinders intake and exhaust camshaft lobes being either on the valve opening (hard to turn the camshaft) or valve closing (camshaft rotates itself sharply) positions. Another ATX-experienced SHOwner may provide some insight on the difference in the tension with a healthy tensioner.

 

[projectSHO89]

His is unhealthy. Time for a new one.

Stev e

 

[rubydist]

I agree that the tensioner is bad. On my blue 93, the engine knocked at idle when i bought it, not from bad rod bearings, but because the tensioner was shot and somehow knocked (and the belt was way loose). A new tensioner as part of the 60k maintenance and the knock was gone.

 

[SHOMON]

x2 on replacing the tensioner i had the same exact problem with my 95atx thought it was rod bearings. A new tensioner from F*** is like $110?

 

[SHOtimer]

x2 on replacing the tensioner i had the same exact problem with my 95atx thought it was rod bearings. A new tensioner from F*** is like $110?

If you can find it. I bought a significant amount of them as they are only selling what they have in stock. No more new ones.

Doug

 

[SHOMON]

I got mine 6 months ago my buddy at the dealer said there was 100plus in the warehouse in memphis? Brand new! Of course that was after I spent 150 bucks on bad used ones. Only because I thought the part was obsolete from F***.

 

[SHOtimer]

I got mine 6 months ago my buddy at the dealer said there was 100plus in the warehouse in memphis? Brand new! Of course that was after I spent 150 bucks on bad used ones. Only because I thought the part was obsolete from F***.

Really. Hm.

 

[Jim Blythe]

I appreciate everyone’s input, a big THANK YOU to everyone who responded, I have ordered a used one with pulley from RCM and along with a DPFE sensor that was also bad. I felt that $145.00 for everything wasn’t too bad.
SHOtimer, I haven’t forgotten your offer, I will get the tensioner but after dropping $500.00 in one weekend on parts and stuff, I just want the car running again, so hold on to it I will get it.
Thanks again to everyone
Jim