2003 Neon SE 2.0 -- Mech Tensioner or Hydraulic?

[lisad]

This may be a dumb question but I am trying to buy parts for a timing belt/water pump change and there are some kits with a mechanical tensioner and some with a mechanical tensioner. No idea what this car has, and I don't know what to buy. I tried Googling both and the images look exactly the same. So how can I find out which one is in the car so I can purchase? Thanks guys. PS -- This car has 230,000 miles and no idea when the belt was last changed but I suspect the water pump is leaking a bit so it's time.

[jonnymopar]

You'll need the mechanical tensioner for your car. Luckily, it's cheaper and more reliable. My car is a very early 2003 (production date July 2002), and mine is mechanical, so I'm sure yours is too.

[occasional demons]

This is the mechanical Liten's tensioner.



Picture link is for Gates, but I'm betting it's a rebaged Litens.

Hydraulic tensioner

[BlackRoseRacing]

If I remember correctly, Chrysler was fazing out the hydraulic tensioner for the mechanical one. This is why when you purchase a timing kit from Mopar, the price is so high. They are selling the mechanical tensioner covers with everything you need to convert over to get rid of the hydraulic tensioner.
The mechanical one is better anyways as the hydraulic one fails and sticks in place causing a lot of slack in the timing belt and leading to engine failure