Timing belt ?

[Louis-Alain Richard]

Just to clarify a few points.

>>A fully charged battery should be approx. 12.5 volts.

No, this is a weak battery. A fully charged battery is 12.8 volts. 75%
is 12.6, 50% is 12.4 and a dead battery is less than 12.2. That is, if
you have a good multimeter. I know I seem anal, but this is important
since it's the easiest way to test a battery without a proper battery
tester.


WRT to the subject...
The easiest way to tell if the timing belt is broken is to try to start
the engine. The sound you'll hear is the one of an electric motor (the
starter) spinning _really_fast_. It's a lot like the sound of a plane's
jet engine starting. You can't mistake it for a normally functioning
engine with its "ta-ta-ta-ta broooommm" sound we all know so well. 

Louis-Alain