Timing belt - does this look right?
 

So i am new to the t-belt thing.
in the picture, the pulley i labeled is doing nothing. i can grab it and spin it freely. is that normal? looks like this is the balance shaft belt idler pulley according to a diagram i found.
at that same point on the belt i can grab it and twist about 3/4 of the way around, im guessing thats too loose? i can search to figure out how to tighten it, thats no problem, but i just wanna make sure first.
TIA!
edit - the label should come up in a sec. its the pulley with the nut on the front just NW of the center of the pic.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...CE33B5344B.jpg

There should be about a credit cards distance between the belt and that pulley.

okay perfect. what does it do? is there a certain point when it makes contact?

it stops the belt from flopping too much under load changes. Balance belt should be a little loose, something like 140-180 degrees between thum and index on the long end. rotate the engine a couple of times and re-check.

270 degrees is correct for b.s. belt.

good to hear! sounds like its about right then. im no pro at checking timing belts, but you can see in the pic (as well as i could see also) there was no cracking. its got 15k and 4 years on it.
safe to wait another year?

hmm then I should loosen mine a bit maybe, doesn't whine too much though... Need to re-check tensions anyway it's been about 3000 miles since I put on the new ones

I had mine at 225* and it was too loose and hitting the water pump pulley. Now its at 180* and makes noise but doesn't hit.
You also cant visibly tell the timing belt condition until it is pretty much too late. If you are having doubts, replace it.

how lucky do you feel? IIRC, three years or 30K miles, whichever comes first.

Four years? Replace it.

Hi,

the video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1P0n1DXMto

should give you some answers.

Regards,

Jürgen