Shark Attack

I have about 3 months of driving yet in Erie before snow flakes fall. With no proof of a TB job and the recent scare of the TB light coming on after some hard running; I thought I better pull a cover and look at this... To no surprise it needs a TB job.

I want to take the car on a 1000 mile round trip next weekend... What do you think? bad idea? or you have seen worse that went a lot farther?

Thanks for the input

Kyle

leperboy

I can't tell anything from the picture to indicate why it needs a TB. Is it dry and cracked, or very worn? The position isn't really anything to be alarmed about as long as that's where it tracks. That's where mine is and it tracks straight and true on both cams, so unless you've seen it running farther back before, I wouldn't sweat that.

Can you ask the PO when the TB was done?

Matt

Shark Attack

To me its not right. it looks like the bushing in the tention roller is getting bad. The PO said the Tb was done recent. But I do forget how recent. But the PO's info was wrong about 3 other things on the car as well and I have no proof of a tb job recently.

The belt appears in good shape. Yes i am worried about where it is running on the cogs. It is my experiance that this happens when a belt is over tightened

Alan

If you got a warning that presumably means its loose. If its really been done recently it might need to be retensioned. Unless you are sure when it was done - of course you are taking a risk. Examining it is not really going to confirm much unless its obvious its on its last legs. You should at least check the tension and adjust back to within spec. I'd contact the PO again for more details - but absent real proof & given his other poor info I'd plan to get it in soon for a new one... not cheap unless you do it yourself though...

It should really track to the middle - but more important that its stable and is not still moving around - how are the cam gears - you need to determine if they are worn too (straight edge across top of teeth) - once they are noticeably worn belt wear rate & risk goes up.

Alan

Big Dave

Mine rode on the gear in the same position before I changed bushings on the tensioner arm. Now it rides near the middle.

Mrmerlin

check the oil in the tensioner, that may have caused the light to come on, if the back of the belt looks good IE no cracking then check the tension if its all good you should be OK

Shark Attack

can you tell me more about the oil in the tentioner.. Thanks!

Mrmerlin

to check the oil put a rag under the tensioner,remove both of the bleeder screws. See if any oil drips out of the holes,if it does then your tensioner is OK. If not, the fill hole is the one farthest from the crank, i like to use a visene bottle filled with oil and the hole of the bottle drilled out a bit so oil can flow from the bottle, place the bottle in the fill hole and gently squeeze the bottle till oil flows from the other hole without any air bubbles. If it takes lots of pressure dont force the oil as you will probably blow the inner sealing clamp ring off of the tensioner , this will require a removal of the rubber boot to fix, If your tensioner is leaking slightly you could use 90 wt oil instead of the suggested engine oil, this may help to slow down the leaking also check the tensioner hold down bolts make sure the 4 bolts are tight, you might want to add some pipe sealant to the threads of the bleeder screws when you reintall them, just a bit to the threads

Daniel Dudley

Given that you are running a 32 valve engine, I don't see that you can afford to take chances with your timing belt. Belt failure is about the only thing that will kill a five speed.

Doesn't Capn' Earl live somewhere around you ? He is a bona fide 928 genius.