What to Do When the Timing Belt Sounds Too Tight?

[DelPatrick]

Confirm whether the abnormal noise is caused by the belt itself or by damage to the timing belt tensioner pulley or idler pulley. If the mileage exceeds 60,000 kilometers and there are cracks, replace the timing belt. If the mileage is low and there are no signs of cracking in the belt, adjust the belt tensioner pulley.

[McColeman]

When I heard the squeaking sound from the timing belt, I knew something was wrong. An over-tightened belt is no small matter. Last time at the auto repair shop, I saw a car where the belt had completely worn out the tensioner pulley bearing and even affected the camshaft. This is mainly caused by an over-adjusted or aged and stuck tensioner. That excessive tension can cause the belt to crack or deform prematurely. I remember the mechanic carefully loosening it with a torque wrench, using a special gauge to measure the tension. If the tensioner itself is broken, it needs to be replaced, and on some models, the valve cover has to be removed to access it. This is definitely not something to mess with on your own—even a slight misalignment in timing can damage the valves and pistons. Leave this kind of professional work to the professionals.