Fairly serious cambelt question... Thanks!

[keeweechris]

Car: 97 wrx

I'm on the homeward leg of a my 1st cambelt change, but I'm not 110% sure its ok.

Firstly, when I thought I had it all lined up (lines, notches, nicks, as per service manual) I pull the pin on the tensioner (swing-arm type) and not a lot happened. I expected the tensioner arm to jump out and the tensioner idler to put more tension on the belt, but nothing happened. In fact, I can still just wedge the pin back through the holes to the back of the tensioner.

It was a brand new part from Winger.

But the belt isn't slack anywhere. Not sure how much tension there should be on the belt though.

I'm really scared that if I leave it, and the tensioner is faulty, then... well you know what.

How can I tell if the tensioner is working? Has anyone had this before?

Thanks!

[driftrex]

in my experience there should be quite alot of pressure from that tensioner, i have had to push mine back a few times now, but i put it in a vice and wound it in slowly.

take it back to Wingers and get them to check it out if in doubt.

[Shale]

+1 the guys tend to need to reset it with a vise whenever they do a cambelt job here.

Guess it depends what kind of tensioner though.

[Guest boostcut]

to check the tension on the belt, find the longest un interupted piece of belt, i.e. where theres no idlers etc. and see if you can twist the belt 90* perpendicular to itself. this is about the correct amount, other than that. wind the bolt back in and turn the motor over by hand and see if the tensioner comes out a bit more... it will over time

[dimin]

Done 2 cambelts now with the swing arm type tensioner, and both were brand new and did exactly the same as you describe. No issues at al. Its an auto tensioner so i assume itll adjust itself for tension ???

[Guest boostin]

Normal as. Just wind the engine over by hand a few times and make sure all the marks line up again. The passengers side normally looks about 1/2 a tooth out too.

[keeweechris]

Yeah, that was my other concern, the pass side double markers don't line up properly, and the top marker is kinda 1/2 way between tooth and valley, and doesn't line up nicely with line on new cambelt. All feels a bit rangi, but any other config is worse. I've read somewhere else that this is normal. Weird tho, and a bit disconcerting.

OK, re tension, the longest length between pulleys is between tensioner and pass-side intake cam pulley. Twisting this hard by hand I can almost get it to 90degrees but not quite. Seems fairly tight. The tensioner retracts a little bit (0.5mm) when I do this, but moves back when I let go.

I'll leave over night, and maybe it will settle.

Cranking engine over the correct way is all fine and dandy, but I'd have to crank it over 1000 times to get the lines/notches to match up again. I've read its not ok to turn it backwards... is this true?

Good to know your ones boostin and dimin have done the same. I'm prob just over reacting, but its strange noone mentions this in the writeups of cambelt changes.

Thanks guys. I'll stop pestering you soon.

[Guest boostcut]

just put the front pulley back on and start the engine bro. it will be sweet.

[keeweechris]

Getting this sort of sh1t wrong freaks me out. But yeah, I'll smoke a marley tomorrow and crank her up.

[Guest boostin]

Always wind it over by hand first ( ie. 22mm socket on the crank bolt). Saves bent valves if you have it wrong.

[keeweechris]

Hey, you'll never believe it, but godamnit the bloody car works! No bent valves, no dripping oil, just nice engine sounds!

Thanks guys for all the help.

[Stoffa]

dont you hate that feeling just before you turn the key for the first time?!!