Hello

Well im getting ready to order these parts. Its an extra alomst 90$ to get the balancer chain parts (cloyes). My balancer chain looks pretty good. The motor only has 88k on it. I know ultimately the answer is "shut up and just replaced the thing!!" but I only paid 900$ for the car so thats 10% of the value of the car for a darn chain and tensioner. My question is this. The chain feels a bit loose but am I correct when I say that the tensioner doesnt reach full "tension" until the oil pump kicks in? Same with the main tensioner for the timing chain? Or do i have the wrong idea? Or should it be tight when the motor is off? If it should be tight with the motor off then i'll replace it. If not then i'll probably swap the water pump and retime the balance chain as is and then put a new timing chain on and finally get this thing dropped in my HHR. Thanks everyone.
Ken