So my civic is making a squealing as soon as the car starts and it's dependant on engine RPM. I have figured out its something with the timing belt as I have all other belts off. The timing belt is pretty tight, takes a little bit of effort to move it up and down and only moves about 3-5 mm. It's a brand new timing belt kit which included the belt, tensioner, spring for tensioner and the water pump. I've been driving for a few months now and never had this happen until my axle decided to pull out and had to attempt limping it home it started squealing. Now as soon as I start it it squeals very loud. Almost a supercharger whine. I'm thinking it's the idler pulley but can't find them anywhere even on eBay and Amazon. Does anyone have their own thoughts on this? Car is now out of time because I tried removing the crank bolt and couldn't with hand tools (going to buy a Milwaukee 1/2 in. Impact gun and sockets) so I can't provide a video of the sound. Please someone help me I'm going crazy.
Colin42
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Cheap aftermarket timing kit
I bought the kit from O' Riley's. So no its not that it's a cheap kit. I just need to know if it would be my tensioner or my idler pulley. The idler has 60k on it. (Imported engine from japan)
FRSam
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It sounds like a physical tension issue (belt not tight enough). I’d check that first.
How tight should a timing belt be? It's pretty tight but can't find any info on HOW tight it should be
FRSam
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You should be able to wiggle it about a quarter inch by hand. If it’s any less, you probably have it too tight.
sdaidoji
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Timing belts should not squeal unless its rubbing against something aside from the teeth (otherwise you would have bent valves)
isn't your tensioner roller frozen?
Timing belts should not squeal unless its rubbing against something aside from the teeth (otherwise you would have bent valves)
isn't your tensioner roller frozen?
Thank you yes it's way too tight then, I took the tensioner off (made sure I was at TDC and timed properly incase I'll need to take the timing belt off) and I think the spring for the tensioner was way too small or the tensioner somehow binded up from something I did when I did the timing belt originally. Timing belt looks like it's in good condition so am I safe to reuse it? Or do you think it stretched too much? It only ran for about 20 seconds while making the squealing noise.
If you mean auto tensioner then yes. It is an auto tensioner and have taken off the tensioner and spring and getting a new one tomorrow.

