I've been having a stuttering problem with the Talon lately..and believe it's the tension in the belt (it's not an old belt, so I think it just got broken in...) but I was wondering where the tensioners are...and how to tighten them?(get to them, which way the bolt goes..since it seems 2Gs bolts go different directions in different places...I COULD take it to the dealership..but I work basically every day but sunday(what luck :( ) and would like the problem corrected this weekend :P so please..HELP ME! :)

and about the gasket question...just how hard is the valve cover gaskets to do..and how long would it take?(i remember seeing a writeup somewhere..but forgot where..and too lazy to search)

First off, i like your rims. They're different but still nice. As for the timing belt, it should not need tightening. there is a hydraulic tensioner that takes care of that. When was the last time you had it changed? If it's too loose, go back and have them fix it. You can cause damage to the valves in your head if the belts not right. For the valve cover gasket, that's easy. Remove the plug wires. Remove the coil on top of the v/c and the six bolts that hold the v/c in place. Slip a scraper of some kind right between the v/c and the top ridge of your head and pry up a bit. Replacement is the opposite of removal but remember: don't tighten the six v/c bolts too much!! I think the torque spec is 9 pounds. I'd check it first though...chris

thanks for the rim comment...they're Quantum Tek S-13s, I'm about to replace them sometime... anyway..I KNOW it's the belt..I hear the squeel very lightly every time I put my foot to the pedal...where do I tighten them...or how much would it cost to get them fixed by the factory...i had them replaced just over the summer, like..maybe in may?(i just travel a bit...but not THAT much..) and it was done by a dealership....as for the valve cover thing...is there a particular order to do the bolts?

the timing belt doesnt squeel. its either the ps/ac belt or the alt. belt.

as for the valve cover, you just need to SLOWLY tighten in a criss-cross pattern. i belive the propper sequence is:

bottom right
upper left
lower left
upper right
bottom middle
upper middle

thats just from memory though, i am probably wrong!

they why does it still stutter?(I'm gonna try replacing plugs and wires again..but it's been less than 20k miles since I did that last...) timing is the only reason I really see for this...it stutters randomly, and levels off after about 2k rpm when it does stutter...

sounds like your having the same issue i am. run the keydance and see if you get a code 43. i'm dealing with that shit right now...chris

what does the code MEAN, i know there's a problem..and I've narrowed it down since this has happened once before back in the spring(except I didnt have that belt squeek I hear now).... it's gotta be either..

1) timing belt
2) bad plugs and/or wires
3) fuel filter

you may have a bad fuel injector or you may need new plugs. have you got a cel yet? if not i'd pull your plugs and check if they're excessively dirty. check the gaps too. has this started just recently though? ...chris

replacing a VC gasket is cake man, shouldnt take more than a 1/2 hr. good luck with the timing thing man

-EE

Originally posted by 2point4
you may have a bad fuel injector or you may need new plugs. have you got a cel yet? if not i'd pull your plugs and check if they're excessively dirty. check the gaps too. has this started just recently though? ...chris

yes, very recently... <2 months... and I KNOW it's not an injector, it stutters wrong to be that...

ALSO, the belt doesnt squeel like a PS belt does(although my PS belt squeels too...} it's more like a squeeking, not very loud, just audible, hence my thinking my T-belt is loose..