Timing belt help.

[NotMaiCar]

Is there anyone in the Fayette area of PA that can help me do a timing belt? I've been trying to get this car finished for almost a year and most of my troubles have been from that belt. I thought I had it on right this time, had four people come and look at it to verify I did it right and I just cranked it over and the belt snapped back several teeth.

I've had it. I've done everything I could, read everything I could read, and asked every mechanic at my dealership. No Mistu mechanic will touch it because its a 94 motor and the car is a 92. Maybe its the fact that I'm attention deficit or whatever, but I am missing something critical and I'm sure the next time I have a problem with the belt, it will be too late to save the engine from internal complications.

Anyone that can help, please chime in. I ride with my dad to work, he's a salesman and I'm a tech. he starts later than I do and can't always get me there in time. I'm in danger of losing my job because of this car.

-Rob.

[NotMaiCar]

Better yet, someone explain to me WHY the tension system works. Not how, but why it actually functions.

Does the tensioner pulley bracket need to be able to pivot? What do you use as a set pin for your auto-tensioner? If the set pin is moving FREELY, then why would it matter if the pin is there at all?

It seems to me, if the pin moves freely, then when you remove the pin, there should be no movement at all. If the pin has pressure on it and is hard to move, then yeah I can see the piston moving outwards when you remove the pin. But when the pin is free, and you pull the pin then the piston inside the auto-tensioner shouldnt come out anymore at TDC.

And another thing, everytime I apply tension to the belt, the pressure I'm applying to the pulley actually makes the bracket move, pushing the pistion inside the auto-tensioner even more, thus ruining the adjustment I just made.

I just cannot comprehend this tension system.

[Valhallaz]

With the tensioner pin in, you adjust tension using the tensioner tool. Once tension is set, you remove the pin. THe pin should be easily re-inserted (according to the manual, this is not critical as long as the tensioner rod is within specs). THen you remove the pin. THe pin doesn't stay in.
Turn the motor by hand 2 or 3 revolutions clockwise facing the harmonic balancer (never turn it backward, as that will de-tension the belt and could cause slippage) then check timing marks again to insure they're on the mark.

Hope this helps.

[speedy25]

You have a BAD tensioner! Only use a NEW Mitsubishi part for reliability. When you set the tension correctly, you should be able to reinsert the pin again. You SHOULDNT see the adjustment pulley move or the tension change. When the tensioner is working properly it takes some work in a vise to get it pushed in to insert the pin. The last one I took out I could push the pin in with my finger.

How it works: The tensioner is hydraulically damped. It has a limited travel. You set the preload initially to allow for belt stretch. Sometimes when the engine spins backwards on a shut down, the tensioner can back out and the belt gets loose. Starting brings it back to normal. So dont be alarmed if you observe it loose around the water pump sometime.

Are you changing the idler pulleys too? They are known to fail when run past the recommended 60k

I hope this eases your stress and lets you get your car done.

-SP

[GTwizard]

Speedy25
Good info there. But you left out the fact this man needs to get a manual and start reading. He must have thought this was an easy job. Now he knows why people pay people like me to do this.
I wonder just what all was replaced? And yes that pivot should be removed, cleaned, degreased and reinstalled. They can freeze up. With out a manual, how did this guy torque everything to spec?
Advice. If someone gets mad at their car, I have doubts the car did anything wrong. But one should be mad at them selves for trying to do a 1/2 assed job. Posting after one makes mistakes is kinda late.
Like putting in oil after the engine has spun bearing do to a lack of oil. Not going to help. For all new owners of these cars, READ before you wrench.
As far as the tensioner working and why, you must understand what it does first. It does not create the tension required to tension the belt. That is not what it's for. The mechanic is supposed to set the tension correctly, and than this hydraulic device simply maintains that tension for you. That's it in a nut shell. Had you read the manual first you would have known this.

[wingnut]

used to be a great video on this thread...

http://www.3sgto.org/f2/timing-belt-101-a-3109.html

...anyone save it somewhere?!?

[NotMaiCar]

I actually have the manuals but have a hard time comprehending drawn out things due to my ADHD.



Anyways, I just thought I'd drop in to tell you guys I got everything worked out, figured out how to use the tensioner and replaced it. Now I just need to find out why it won't start.