How do you properly check your timing?

[godseal]

I have an old timing light my dad gave me in my tool box and I have my new 98 GST with a couple issues, but before I get crazy into maintainence and spend more moeny than I have to I'd like to eliminate a few things. First off it has 138k miles and I would like to hope that timing belt was changed. In either case for my own general knowledge I want to know how the hell I use this timing light.

 

[1983gsp]

You hook the alligator clips to the battery and the probe goes around the no.1 spark plug wire. Squeeze the trigger with the engine running and point it at the timing marks on the crank pulley. That's all there is to it.

 

[RT-AWD]

i always found it helpful to mark the timing notch with a yellow ink to see better.
If the notch is in front of the proper timing notches on your cover then you are advanced, and vice versa.

Best advice: If your not sure if the timing belt has been done, and the seller doesnt know or, thinks it was done, best is to just change it and not hope it was done.

 

[SrKegler]

To check mechanical timing, remove the top cover and rotate the engine until the lower timing mark is on zero. Then check the marks on the cam sprockets. They should be pointing at each other. May have to turn the engine over several times to get the 3 marks to line up. This is also a good time to check the belt for marks, oil, cracks, etc.

As mentioned above though, if you're not sure when the belt was changed, go ahead and change it, the idler, tensioner pulley, hydraulic tensioner and water pump while you're in there. After you've done one TB change with the engine in the car, you'll understand why.

 

[92AWDHX40]

If you dont know for sure dont assume, get it changed and pulleys, water pump since your there, and tensioner. Failure to do this will lead to a more expensive job than replacing that belt and the components neededs. Never hope, just do it, as in a lot of things with cars never assume.