ERNEST

I'm thinking of changing the belts on my 1988;doesn't this engine have a automatic tensioner or do I still have to buy that expensive tool?It has 44,000 miles and the belts were changed 7 years ago at 25,000 miles.Has anyone seen the procedure on a webpage somewhere?

Ski

It has a spring tensioner. You sort of have to push down on it and let it pop up toward the belt on the install, after you loosen the lock nut on it from the removal phase. That gets it close. We all do the "feels right" more than we all care to admit, but if you're new to this then get it done by someone, rent the tool, or do it yourself then take it to someone to get them to check the tension correctly.

I've gotten pretty good with the "feel" it on install but I always take it to get it checked after I've changed belts or taken the timing belt off for some reason. If I have the cover off, he charges me $15 to check the belts.

www.clarks-garage.com