Just pull the upper timing belt cover and try and twist the belt. If you can turn it more than 90* its loose.

 

It's fine. I was throwing a CEL several months back and the guys at AutoZone scanned it and then cleared the codes. I think it might have even been the manager that did it.

 

Can I do that without removing the front clip?

 

Yeah, timing covers are on the front of the heads. Pop the clips and remove the cover and you'll see the TB.

 

Get those CEL's fixed and get in on the GIAC group buy!!!

 

If GIAC can get me a tune that disables the SAI system (and preferably rear O2, though I do not intend to run catless) then I'll buy from them, otherwise not. http://scaudi.com/sc/index.php?showtopic=4416&st=0

 

Just tried, belt doesn't seem very loose, couldn't get a whole hand on it but with a couple of fingers I couldn't turn it more than maybe 30*

Also - and this might be the wrong thread - but I called a tuning shop near me and he said that the SAI stuff could be tuned out but that the car will be slower in addition to running rich for a short period of time. I don't believe the former to be at all true; I think it should only mean that the catalytic converter will not work as well at engine start making emissions worse for a little bit, yes, but not majorly. Agree? Disagree? If he's wrong then I don't think I can trust him to tune my car.

 

The guy I bought it from said the timing belt was done 2 years ago. He told me that the CEL was ignition related. Yeah, right. But could it have been that someone got the timing a tooth off when they put it back together? I don't think I can trust his word; for all I know the light's been on for 2 years.

How can I tell if it's off?

 

yes they can, i just bought one 10 minutes ago and bought the 60 dollar one

 

So where do you guys recommend going from here? Should I try a new camshaft sensor? Replace the timing belt/tensioner? Maybe when it was done before, the tensioner wasn't replaced?

If I'm half(?) a tooth off on timing, it wouldn't run well, would it? It's pretty smooth. It's certainly slow, but that's probably a problem with my expectations over the car itself (though nothing some elbow grease and upgraded parts can't fix next year). How can I tell if it's off on timing?

I cleared the codes last night with VAG-COM and hopefully I can get it to pass the tests enough to get readiness to come up and pass inspection before the CEL comes back. (Or, really, hopefully it doesn't come back, but I'm not overly hopeful about that.)