m20 noise when cold

[Bene]

You live in Phoenix, how would you know what your car does when it is cold?

phoenix does get "cold" for about a week.

[funcrew]

...When the timing belt was replaced did the lifting bracket that fits between the upper timing cover and the engine get left off?

I did that - but figured it out before starting the engine.

[jlevie]

I was referring to the cause of the noise. The black stuff is ground up belt. In the pic you can also see the belt is off the cam sprocket by a good 1/8". The belt has about 4000 miles on it so im thinking its the tensioner but I will pull the cover and verify tonight.

Pull the covers and check the bolts that lock down the tensioner. If they are loose the tensioner can cock and shift the belt. Those bolts are supposed to be tightened after the timing belt installation and timing check is completed.

[PNWDan]

Pull the covers and check the bolts that lock down the tensioner. If they are loose the tensioner can cock and shift the belt. Those bolts are supposed to be tightened after the timing belt installation and timing check is completed.

I was under the impression that I should just be changing the belt again for good measure even if its as simple as you state because of the stress that its been through. Do you think its ok to continue using the same belt or should I just re do the whole thing?

[jlevie]

Ye, change the belt and tensioner.It costs too much if the belt fails to take a chance on the old belt.

[PNWDan]

Ye, change the belt and tensioner.It costs too much if the belt fails to take a chance on the old belt.

All I can say is WOW!!!

I caught this just in time. Below is the pictures as everything fell after I removed the cover. I cant believe this thing was still running before I took it apart.... The tensioner bolt had in fact came loose

a new timing belt and tensioner go in tomorrow.

[PNWDan]

Happy to report the new timing belt install went well. Glad I caught this before it was worse.