So my 02 WRX wagon started to make some valve slapping noise. It's got 84000 miles and the original timing belt. Since I was replacing the radiator I decided to replace the timing belt too. I got a Power Enterprises belt from Mach V. Everything was going fine. Got all 4 cams lined up, belt on, etc. After all was said and done, the belt is loose. It seems like it's too long, but just a little.

I checked with Mach V and it is the correct belt. Did I stretch the belt when I put it in? Seems unlikely. The idler and tensioner seem to be in the right place and working fine, but is there a malfunction I'm missing? Is there something else I missed? I've gone thru all the DIY/FAQs and I think I did everything. Is there a trick?

Thanks for the help.

p.s. Driving my wife's minivan SUCKS!!!

isn't there a pin you need to pull on the tensioner to let it actually do its thing?

Yep, you stick a 2mm allen wrench into the piston to hold it in place while you assemble all the other parts. I pulled that out. The tensioner is doing it's thing, but th belt is still loose.

How tight should it really be? None of the wheels without teeth should be able to turn without the belt moving, right?

Try putting the old belt back on or try compairing the belts. I just did mine on my 04, I used a factory belt though, had no problems.

rotate the crank around.. it'll adjust

rotate the crank around.. it'll adjust

+1

My book says to rotate counter clockwise 90 deg, then go 2 full revolutions clockwise.

The PE blue belt is kevlar and doesn't come marked. What I like to do is rotate the old belt until the timimg marks line up. Mark the belt with white-out or something else. Then remove the belt and transfer the marks to the PE. If you can't do that, buy or borrow one from your parts manager for the transfer. When I installed mine, the belt did not stretch like a new regular belt. At first I thought the tensioner was bad, but it checked out. The belt is just better. Less stretch, more exact tming.

OK, I'm a dumbass. I forgot to put that metal sleeve into the tensioner assembly before I put the bolt in. Good thing I didn't break anything.

After you rotate the motor, the tension evens out.

Sorry about the drama.

The PE blue belt is kevlar and doesn't come marked. What I like to do is rotate the old belt until the timimg marks line up. Mark the belt with white-out or something else. Then remove the belt and transfer the marks to the PE. If you can't do that, buy or borrow one from your parts manager for the transfer. When I installed mine, the belt did not stretch like a new regular belt. At first I thought the tensioner was bad, but it checked out. The belt is just better. Less stretch, more exact tming.
your somewhat correct .

the pe belt v1 doesn't have the marks while the v2 does ...