1G timing loose and then tight?

[camsmurdered2g]

All on a 90 tsi awd.

My timing belt was loose as hell before I tore into it.. I could move the belt an inch up amd down between the cam gears. Now I tore the covers off and turned it over a few times by hand to check timing and its tight now. Any ideas? Didnt touch any pulley jist turned it over by a ratchet.

I have only driven the car 3 times since I have owned it and the entire time the top cover has been off and the belt has been that loose. Im at a loss. Thanks for any info

 

[92AWDHX40]

Did you replace it recently.

 

[BogusSVO]

Check the hyd tensioner, it could be failing and not keeping the proper belt tenstion on it

 

[lglracer]

I actually delt with the same problem. The reason is there is slack in the system. My buddy and I installed a brand new timing belt and we could move the belt any where from a half an inch to a inch. But we could rotate it then it would be tight again. My sugjestion is to redo the tention on the belt. Start with getting your cams lined up and the belt on then go on the idler pully side and wrap the belt around the oil pump sprocket. Make sure there is no slack there and your marks are lined up the put it around the crank. Now make sure you have tension everywhere beside where the tensioner pully is. Once everything is double checked for alignment and tension, tention it down and pull the pin out of the hydrolic tentioner and it should be all fine.

 

[gieri002]

Depending on the amount of slack it is probably fine, here is an explanation for the slack/tension:

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/new...-7-loose-cam-sag-sagging-sprockets-gears.html

 

[camsmurdered2g]

Auto tensioner is fine, the belt is new, and I did it yesterday and everything was fine except for the crank being one tooth off. Second attempt this morning.

 

[camsmurdered2g]

Got everything done yesterday morning. Seems to be fine. Thanks for the input guys.

 

[99gst_racer]

Just an FYI: Checking belt tension between the cam gears is not the proper place to do it. The proper place is between the exhaust cam gear and the tensioner pulley.

 

[jed344]

I think it is normal to have some slack now a inch seems like alot but mine would tighten up when turned.