Why won't the timing belt tighten!?

[kev12mich]

So, I had to do a timing belt change because my water pumps bearing broke and it seized grinding off all the teeth on the timing belt. So, I read the two tutorials here, took a look at both my Chiltons and Haynes manual. I have the belt in and everything is aligned, but it is INCREDIBLY loose. as in at least an inch of free play. I have the belt routed just like it is in the pictures on the tutorials. the tensioner is as far up as it can go. Why is it so damn loose?

[Yanpapa]

First of all. what car do you have? If you have INCREDBLY LOOSE belt, then you may have a wrong parts for your car. I assumed you've looked at: My Timing belt change (very detailed, pics) Gen 4
when I've changed timing belt on Camry, I had problem with tightning my belt and followed posting #12 by Digger1 regarding how to adjust new timing belt and fixed my problem.

[lenjack]

Yeah...I also think you have the wrong belt.

[ghettosled]

i usually use a cheater bar to apply some tension, but it doesnt take much. your belt should be tight, assuming you have the correct belt. but i guess if you install it, rotate the crank around a couple of times you will know right away if you have the correct size belt. if the belt is too long, every rotation the timing would get farther off. once i put mine on too loose and it slapped the cover when the motor was running. not fun tearing everything back down again to tighten.

[kev12mich]

Fixed
I followed post #12 from here

Now I have a new problem. So, to test that it worked, I put the bottom cover and the harmonic balancer on. Then I tried starting the engine and it worked, but it sounded like the timing was off a bit. So, I tore it down again and made sure everything was aligned and tightened. Tried starting it again and nothing. I figured I had drained the battery a bit. I put my charger on with it set on the 50 amp start setting and tried cranking, but it still did not fire once.

When setting the timing from scratch, all I have to do is align the crankshaft with 0 degrees and the camshaft with the line correct?

[toyomoho]

Count the number of teeth on the new and old belt and compare.

The timing belt always has some play. Tighten the tensioner as you rotate the engine CW so the belt is under tension.

To re-time crank/cam timing set crank pulley at TDC. Set cam pulley so you can look through the hole in the pulley spoke and see the mark (notch) at the top of the cam bearing mount. The cam spoke with the hole should be up, use a mirror to align the hole to the mark.

After the belt is installed rotate the engine 2 times CW and recheck the marks. Is possible cam pulley may need adjusting one tooth due to belt take up after installing.

Always rotate the belt 2 times CW to check. If installed OK, the crank will line up at TDC when cam lines up at the spoke hole and notch every other revolution. The cam turns 2 times around for every 1 revolution of the crank.

It is possible for the engine to run rough after belt replacement (why?) then run normal after restarting. The distributor timing should be pretty close without adjustment, close enough for the engine to run OK.

If you adjust the distributor timing, follow the procedures in jumping the terminal box if required for this model year.