It would be a yes and no , you have to put the cover on to use the timing light on it , plus it keep things from fouling up the belt if somehow a small rock or pebble finds its way in that area , but if the cover is now hitting the belt it must be bent , and they do bend very easy , if you step on them when you have them off to change the belt , done that a few times , most if not all lays the cover on the ground in front of the car when working on it and gets under foot, just look at the cover and see if you can just pull it off the belt so it will not ride on it, it will cut into it in no time , if you have time go to the you pull it yard and get to whole set of the newer sprockets (round tooth ) and plastic covers , last longer and will not bend , hope this helps ,