ahhhh, ok, so lesson learned for me...to post what kind of vehicle. It's a 2001 mazda tribute dx, 2.3L 4 cylinder. I guess that's why I keep getting different answers! Even the dealership told me today it was a CHAIN. But if babybuey is correct it's a BELT. That may be the least of my worries anyhow, tonight I lost all power to it on my way to work! So if anyone can help with this I am changing the subject a little, I know, but.....I have a manual transmission, and today when I would take it out of gear into neutral it would rev up to about 3.2 on the RPM gauge.After I would come to a complete stop it would go backdown to 1.0 like normal, it was only if the car was moving that it reved up (and I was not touchingeither the gas or clutch pedal.Then tonight I lost all power. And I do mean ALL. Thanks all you guys for your help! Feeling like my first car buying experience without a husband has gone very very very badly!

 

You did just fine on your first car buying experience louiebell. Even without a husband which you certainly do not need in order to select a good vehicle. Just a kink or two to work out in the new purchase is all. If the Trib is an 01 then is a 2.0l engine 4 cylinder and not a 2.3l that was introuduced as an engine for the 05 model year. I think you have the better engine in the 2.0 than the 2.3 so kudos to you for that good pick.
Understand the rpm being high as you describe and that is very unusual for the rpm to remain that high only when moving and then drop back down to normal when at a stop. 1000 rpm is still a bit on the high side for idle as spec should be around 750. What do you mean that you lost all power? Engine shut off and all dash light came on like engine stalled, or just would not accelerate and could not get going? Just explain as best as possible what happened when you "lost all power" and am sure that we can at least give you a direction to go in.

 

Thanks babyhuey, by lost all power I mean all electrical power. I lost all my lights, etc. I replaced the battery today and then performed the alternator "test" and it seems I have a bad alternator. But does that explain the high rpms? I would not think so, but I'm not so sure. You're right though, when it goes back down to idle it is around the 750 mark, I was just estimating on the 1000. However, even after replacing the battery today (definately needed that) I was able to get it home so we can work on the alternator this weekend....but anyway, on the way home it was still idleing high when moving and in neutral, but NOT when sitting still! Haven't even owned the darn truck for a week, I hope this isn't an omen for the future! [] PS so you are saying the thing has a timing belt not a chain right? The dealership told me chain....UGH kind of a big difference!