timing belt slack

["Rod L. Wiggins" <rwiggins@rs6000.baldwinw.edu>]

On Wed, 15 Mar 1995, Alan Page wrote:

> 
> Even worse, this new mechanic says that the timing belt is loose, a very
> dangerous thing. I now wonder whether the timing belt was changed at 
> that 60K service. I paid $700 for that service because my mechanic said
> that the timing belt should be changed...and while you've got it off I
> should do the water pump at the same time. This mechanic wants $200 to
> remove the timing belt cover and inspect and adjust it.
> 
> My question is: am I getting ripped off, or are these assumptions valid?
> Especially this new mechanic who says he can see, through an access hole
> in the cover, that the timing belt is loose. Help!
> 
> Thanks,
> Alan
> 
> 
Alan, 
 With regards to your timing belt question. I have installed about 20 
timing belts in my lifetime, and on one occasion I experienced something 
rather odd. Luckily it was on my own car instead of a customers. For some 
odd reason the belt on my Ur-quattro waited a week and then decided to 
loosen up. I am certain the tensioner (i.e. water pump) did not move, but 
I afet a week of driving I heard the sound of my belt slapping against 
the timing belt cover. Perhaps your mechanic heard this sound and that is 
what he is basing his diagnosis on. You may not have heard it because you 
usually have to be standing infront of the car to hear it. Inside the 
car with all of that sound proofing it is unlikely that you would notice. 
I retensioned the belt and it has been fine since. perhaps you did get a 
new belt and it simply stretched or was never properly tensioned in the 
first place. 
  However, I'd ask him how it was he made his diagnosis.
Rod