Hey guys,

Just got done with servicing all my belts, when I got everything back together and started the car up, I have this clicking sound coming from right on top of my engine block, you can't hear it much from under the car or behind the car (and barely from inside) but it's quite audible when you're on top of the engine.

Any ideas what this might be and how to fix it? I made sure, I aligned the Cam/Crank timing marks as perfect as I could... Though there is a chance everything went slightly off as the belt has to be placed "retarded" and I'm not sure exactly how to do that...

I appreciate your help very much!

may have just been starved of oil, pour a little bit into the fill hole. if it keeps it up you it's most likely very minorly off timing

Well, I never thought of that, isn't it amazing how one can miss on the minor things when thinking "the big picture"? lol... I'll try pouring some oil see how that fares... The car has been sitting around for a while before I changed the belts so it makes some sense...

Hey so unless the marks are aligned SPOT ON, it won't be good enough???

Let's see how well I can explain this after half a litre of Jack Daniel's. It's an interference engine, meaning it's negative clearance ignition so yes the marks need to be spot on. There's minimal clearance or room for tolerance. I hate to point you in this direction but you really should tear it all down and realign everything.

Aw, I was hoping not to have to do this again lol. Ok, well thank you and I'll post later with results.

Allright guys I got an update on my quest to get this damn job done (quite a hefty one so please bear with me, your help means the world to me right now)...

I need to confirm this with you guys before I go ahead and put the car back together.

Per the instructions that came with the TB Kit from Blau, on AEB engines (mine) one is supposed to set the timing belt "retarded" which means that on the camshaft sprocket the marks will appear to be off by one tooth towards the driver's side (clockwise) once the belt is on to allow for slack and whatnot. Then one is supposed to turn clockwise two full rounds at the crankshaft so tension can be set, bla bla bla...

Ok so I did that and I'm wondering before I cry win... Where are my cam marks supposed to be now that tension is set? Are they still supposed to be off by one tooth? Or setting it "retarded" will allow the cam to align itself perfectly with the crank? Because I did notice that the marks are not where they were before I turned the crank (and nothing moved as I was mounting the belt, everything moved in/out of alignment as I did those two full turns) they are closer to being aligned though still a little off towards the driver's side (about 1/3 of a tooth).

Is this normal? Or the instructions are wrong and there's a whole 'nother way to do it? (since one can mount the belt so that it's tight at the intermediate shaft/camshaft run or tight at the tensioner/camshaft run?

I really need some specific guidance here and I really appreciate it!!!

*bump* (READ UPDATE PLEASE) ^^^^^^^

Why not call Blau and ask for clarification? They fix cars as well as sell parts. I have found them to be friendly and helpful in the past.

you want it tight on the side opposite the tensioner because the tensioner is what takes up the slack in the belt. being off by 1/3rd of a tooth is fine. more then one tooth is not. it may or may not line up to the exact millimeter.

1/3 tooth will turn into no tooth when you start and run the car for a few. No worries.

What kind of 'clicking' did you hear the first time? Are you sure it wasnt something simple like something hitting the covers?