Im just finishing up my timing belt replacement but im having some trouble tensioning the belt. I read my hanes manual and looked at vfaq.com but they all require special tools. Does anyone have a way or some tips to tension the timing belt. The vehicale is a 98 eclipse gs-t. thanks

The one pulley with the two holes in it (tensioner pulley I believe) on the left near the auto tensioner requires a pair of 90* nose pliers to get it bolted on correctly. Without holding the pulley with the 90* pliers tight against the belt as you torque down the bolt, the pulley loosens naturally, causing the belt to loosen too much. Get a pair od 90* nose pliers and put one nose in each hole and hold it as tight as you can against the belt (clockwise direction IIRC) while you tighten the pulley down (you may need another pair of hands for this).

Also, pull the tensioner it self out again and vice it down and put the pin back in and release that as the final step after you get the pulley installed correctly. You should have basically no slack in the belt at all when it's correct.

That one thing took Jeff and Ricardo and I hours to do because we tried to do it all without the 90* pliers. Get them.

Spring clamps help alot.

How will I know if its tight enough?

If the grenade pin will slip in and out freely after a couple rev's of the crank.

Awesome, tomorrow ill finish her up. Thanks alot guys, you helped me out a ton. I really appreciate it. -Brian