I'm going to resurrect an old thread here .. or try to
ok I resurrected the thread that I got the info about resetting the tensioner throughout the timing belt's service life..

but this probably needs it's own thread as a new question.

Q:
I realized i'm way over the 50,000 mi timing belt change interval for the old '89 B230F
and I'm about to go on a bit of a road trip for a week.

So I decided, as had been suggested in this thread, to 'reset' the timing belt tensioner and put new tension on the belt in case it had stretched over the last 4-5 years, to try to minimize the chance that the teeth will jump rungs on the camshaft sprockets. the belt looks good not even any little cracks or anything, it was just a bit loose

trouble is that when I released the 17mm bolt on the tensioner nothing happened .. it was jammed or stuck, no travel along the spring loaded bar, unless I pushed or pried it one way or another. I pushed on the belt and that made even more slack. so I had to pry it tight again before I could get any amount of tension back into the timing belt.

Now when I drive I hear a slight belt noise, as if the belt is making noise against the pulley.
not sure if I put too much tension in there by prying more than the action of the spring would have done. Any tips ? should I live with the slight belt noise and see if it calms down or goes away in a bit of time ? or should I slacken it up a bit.

How tight should an old re-tensioned timing belt be ?
Does anyone have any practical experience with this sort of thing ?