hey

97 obw 2.5 182000miles

just replaced heads due to failure of pulley.

put new pulleys on and new timing belt.

on cold mornings i am hearing a claterring/knocking coming from the front of the engine. as soon as the car warms up it goes away as far as i can tell. i have heard that a failing tensionr can cause the belt to loosen and slap on the cover until the heat makes the fluid work better. does anyone know anything on this.

or know a way i can check to see if the tensioner is failing.

i never want to experience bent valves again- complete nightmere

i know about piston slap but have never heard it to compare the sounds.

please help

Take the cover off and watch the tensioner. If it hops up and down and makes noise it is defective.

pull the old style tensioner and mounting block off a old 2.2 89-95 and put it in yours. It bolts right up and then you don't have to worry about the new one failing.

pull the old style tensioner and mounting block off a old 2.2 89-95 and put it in yours. It bolts right up and then you don't have to worry about the new one failing.

 

Could the "old style" tensioner be found also on the 96 2.2liters engine? Mine is a cylinder and piston style tensioner mounted horizontaly and pushing on a pulley from right to left (standing in front of the engine). Just to know if I have the bullet proof kind or not.

I just had my 3rd tensioner replaced under warranty. The service manager said that there is a new supplier of the part. We will see.

If you are not sure where the noise comes from, invest $6 in mechanic's stethoscope (Harbor freight tools).

Hey, Frag -- the cylinder and piston is the "old style" tensioner, and as far as I know, is identical on the 2.2. and 2.5L engines.