Too much timing belt travel...
 

Ok so here is my issue...

Problem: Odd rotational/rubbing noise coming from front of engine.

What was done: I replaced the cam seals/plugs, water pump/thermostat, Timing belt and rebuilt the P/S pump.

I buttoned everything up hoping the sound would go away, drove about 15 miles on the highway, performance wise the car performed flawlessly actually had a bit more pep in it's step. HOwever when I came to a stop the rotational/groaning could stil be heard.

So I did a little investigating as the problem persisted. I removed the driver's side front timing belt cover and came to find that the belt walked quite a bit along the idler pulleys.

A picture or a video rather is worth a thousand words I uploaded two videos on youtube...search 92 Subaru SVX Odd Noise and 92 Subaru SVX Odd Noise II. If you find the first video you'll come across the second on the right hand side of the screen.

I am almost certain that the t-belt traveling back and forth so much is causing the noise. But what allows/causes this? I took my sweet time making sure everything was tight. I went back over each pulley and made sure they were torqued to 32 lbs as per the manual.

My one thought is that there isn't enough tension. The manual suggests moving the hydraulic tensioner all the way to the right and tigthen (although not fully) so it stays in place while you align the cam's and t-belt.

I didn't do this rather I moved the tensioner all the way to the left and bolted it up, all the while the tensioner had been compressed and secured with a pin.

After I had everything aligned I installed idler pulley 2 (right below and to the left of the oil pump) and the pulley to the left of the water pump. I came across this method from another member on the forum, I wasn't having much luck with all pulleys installed.

Now, everything was aligned properly and I removed the pin. The piston from the tensioner didn't come out all that much...I just assumed it would slowly move back into position.

Before I tear back into it I wanted to get your alls thoughts, maybe theres something else I am missing....

Thanks in advance, Chris

Re: Too much timing belt travel...
 

Bueler....Bueler....nothing? No thoughts at all?

Re: Too much timing belt travel...
 

Links to the videos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YU9XdJdMM78

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThStaRjhIbA

The tensioners come with a pin in them when you buy them new, so that shouldn't be the issue. The tensioner may need to be replaced or you may have a bad idler pulley (I had one bad right out of the box). Your noise is probably the belt hitting the timing cover, and honestly, I'd huck it in the woods and put a new one in at this point with as many miles as it has been moving around like that and rubbing.

Re: Too much timing belt travel...
 

My tensioner was centered when I took it off. I put it back on the same way. Couldn't hurt to try if you have nothing to do but wait.

Re: Too much timing belt travel...
 

Are you sure that the camshaft sprockets are aligned correctly and running true?

Re: Too much timing belt travel...
 

Tom, how do I ensure the sprockets are aligned properly? I placed each sprocket as snug as possible on each camshaft. Lined it up with the markings on back t belt cover. When i manually turned the entire assembly I didn't notice any rubbing.

On the second video is it normal for the t belt to move along the pulleys that much?

Re: Too much timing belt travel...
 

1)Tom, how do I ensure the sprockets are aligned properly?

2)On the second video is it normal for the t belt to move along the pulleys that much?

1)Fashion a pointer of sorts to check the straitness of the camshaft pulleys.
It can be as simple as installing two long screws into the back timing belt cover plate and streaching an elastic band between them, banjo tight.
You then turn the engine with a socket on the crankshaft pulley bolt and observe if there is any run out in the camshaft face.

2)NO! Something is wrong.

Re: Too much timing belt travel...
 

hopefully you are having luck correcting your problem,

what brand timing belt do you guys recomend, I found a good price on a Goodyear kit, that comes with the pulleys, is this recommended, if not what should I get?

I would like to get in there and replace the belt, and the sparkplugs coming up in the next couple of weeks,


how hard are cam seals?

Re: Too much timing belt travel...
 

I'd stay away from a goodyear tbelt personally. Go with a Continental kit. They're better than even the gates belts according to many, many people. The Gates belts, at least for WRX/STI's have issues with leaving a green/blue residue on the pulleys for whatever reason.

Re: Too much timing belt travel...
 

where are the continentals available from?

The blue/green on gates belts is the rubber lubricant used after the manufacture to prevent dry rot, and allow the belts to have a longer life, im sure you could wash it off, but you really wouldnt want too!

Re: Too much timing belt travel...
 

I ended up buying the PCI timing belt/idler pully combo. Time will tell how this t-belt holds up.

I didn't get around to correcting my problem. I had previously promised my buddy I'd install a new intake on his Infiniti...took about 5 hrs and I am pooped! I'll tear back into my svx in a day or so...stay tuned! Thanks for all the suggestions.

Re: Too much timing belt travel...
 

In that second video, you can see and hear a rhythmic action that would be caused by one of the pulleys running out, as Tom has described.

Harvey.

Re: Too much timing belt travel...
 

+1 for PCI kits. I'm on my third kit with no problems.

Re: Too much timing belt travel...
 

I have used two of them without any problems.

Re: Too much timing belt travel...
 

I was able to get the timing belt covers off and inspected the situation. Two things I noticed:

1) The hydraulic tensioner (pic attached) I thought would readjust itself, did not. I distinctly remember the piston of the tensioner protruding significantly more before I removed it when installing the new belt. Could I have a faulty tensioner?

2) The passenger side exhaust camshaft appears to be coming into contact with the rear timing belt cover (see attached pic). When installing I assumed there should have been some gap between the cam sprocket and the rear belt cover however (like there was on the driver's side) I was unable to position the rear belt cover any closer to the cylinder head. I rotated the entire assembly a bit and although the exhaust camsprocket looked to be touching the belt cover it didn't make any sort of rubbing noise.

I am playing with the idea of bolting everything back up (p/s pump; alternator; harmonic balancer) WITHOUT putting the timing belt cover on to see exactly what is going on.