Timing Seems a Little Off...? Help Please?

[WhiteCloud]

Besides aligning the marks on cam sprockets, crank sprocket, and oil pump sprocket, is there a way to check/test timing? I recently checked the water pump, and had to retime the engine.

The car idles and sounds fine at about 800 rpm...just like always. However, it seems like my engine has a more high-pitched tone after the new timing, and it feels a little sluggish. When I get into high rpm the high pitch is even more pronounced (it is barely noticeable in low rpm). When I rev in neutral, I believe the rpm's drop slower after I take my foot off the gas. Instead of falling rapidly like they used to when I let go of the gas pedal, they ease down a bit slower. There also seems to be a little more vibration than usual in the gas and clutch pedals.

Like I said, the car drives fine and smoothly (and no, the balance shaft belts are not damaged or broken), but it does seem a little sluggish and higher pitched. I'm wondering if I'm off one tooth in timing, or if there is any way to check for that aside from the obvious if unscientific mark alignments (I believe I have them right-on!)?

 

[TD05HTalon]

it is possible to be 1 tooth off on the timing - when you put the belt on the cam gears like to turn a little bit when you tighten the belt. The 96's have the same crank trigger as the 95's which is notorious for holding bad timing and there's no way to adjust it. Whining could be from having your belt too tight - you checked the grenade tensioner right?

 

[WhiteCloud]

Ah, grenade tensioner...I just got it ! Yea, I tried to get the belt as tight as possible, and that may be a problem. I bolted down the tensioner pulley with the two holes closer to the firewall than toward the ground...I wasn't aware that you could make your timing belt too tight!

Are those two holes on the tensioner pulley supposed to be roughly perpendicular to the ground after tightening the bolt?