Its been a while since I've done a timing belt on a 4g63. I have the cam tool installed and the belt seems loose. The engine is a 2.3 with a 6466 making some jam. It doesn't have more than 5000 miles on this belt but I do beat on the car quite a bit when I drive it.

Is this belt stretched or will it look normal when I pull the cam tool? Its perfectly lined up to the valve cover



so im thinking its stretched but never seen it happen before.

 

thats actually normal at TDC and I hated it. i prefer the Gates belt for this reason but this is more of 'feeling' since it hasnt jumped a tooth yet, unlike when I had the OE belt

 

Wow okay I guess I'll send it. Thanks

 

so when you stop the engine and it stops in that exactly position the cam gear will roll to one side and might skip a tooth. normally would happen when getting gas(maybe the belt is not warm enough) and you'll experience hard-starting. good luck

 

When I go to time it should I zip tie the cam gears and pull the cam tool before I set the preload on the tensioner? I would think its necessary or it will be to loose.

 

no. set the tension with the cam lock, then remove cam lock, then see if the pin can be removed without resistance. then turn the crank maybe 8 times back to TDC then see if you can put the pin back in

 

Thanks I'll give it a whirl on a warmer night