What kind of pulley does a belt tensioner use?
A belt tensioner that consists of a bolt plate that mounts on the engine, a spring-loaded arm and a pulley applies tension to the belt. The pulley itself has an outer ring and an inner bearing.
How to troubleshoot a tensioner pulley noise?
Rotate the tensioner counterclockwise just far enough to slip the serpentine belt off the pulley closest to the belt (or pulley easiest for you to reach, depending on what kind of vehicle you’re working on). Rotate the tensioner back into position. Shine the flashlight on the tensioner pulley and examine the pulley face.
Can a bad drive belt pulley cause wear?
If the drive belt tensioner pulley has any sort of issue it can cause unusual and accelerated wear on the belt. A bad pulley can cause fraying on the edges of the belt, and in severe cases can even cause it to break. 3. Belt-driven accessories fail Another symptom of bad or failing drive belt tensioner is failure of the belt driven accessories.
What happens if you loose a drive belt tensioner?
A seized or loose drive belt tensioner can cause the belt to snap, which will disables those accessories and can cause problems such as overheating, a dead electrical system and battery, or a disabled AC system.
Can a bad belt pulley cause a car to break?
In more severe instances, a bad tensioner pulley can cause the drive belt to break. Failure of the Belt-driven Accessories to Operate Since the belt tensioner keeps the proper spinning of the drive belts in the car’s engine, certain components or accessories may fail to operate if there’s a problem with the tensioner.
What does the pulley on a belt tensioner do?
The pulley is what allows the movement of the drive belt. The spring keeps the drive belt in its correct tension. The tensioner arm is a mechanism that allows for the adjustment or the removal of the drive belt. It delivers enough slack on the drive belt for easier adjustments. The base is what holds all the different parts together.
When to know if your belt tensioner is loose?
If the drive belt noise resembles a squeal or a squeak, it is possible that the belt tensioner is loose. This is especially the case when starting the engine first thing in the morning.
Can a bad idler pulley cause belt slipping?
If you spot the squeaking noise, you should check the idler pulley for any visible wear. Due to the continuous rotation, the component is supposed to deteriorate over time. Be prepared to change the pulley if you see scoring marks on its surface. It will ultimately lose tension and cause belt slipping. 3. Damaged Pulley Or Bearing
How does a serpentine belt tensioner work?
Most modern vehicles use a serpentine belt to run the engine accessories such as the power steering, air conditioning and alternator. The belt routes around the pulleys in a serpent-like manner, hence the name. A belt tensioner that consists of a bolt plate that mounts on the engine, a spring-loaded arm and a pulley applies tension to the belt.
When to replace a tensioner on a belt?
If the bearing is good, the pulley will spin freely, straight and true, without any noise. If that’s not the case, you have a bad bearing and must replace the tensioner. Unfortunately, the end result of any belt tensioner noise is usually tensioner replacement. If you note any of these abnormal signs during your inspection, replace the tensioner.
How can you tell if a tensioner pulley is glazing?
Shine the flashlight on the tensioner pulley and examine the pulley face. If there’s evidence of glazing on the pulley surface, the belt has been slipping on it.
A belt tensioner that consists of a bolt plate that mounts on the engine, a spring-loaded arm and a pulley applies tension to the belt. The pulley itself has an outer ring and an inner bearing.
Rotate the tensioner counterclockwise just far enough to slip the serpentine belt off the pulley closest to the belt (or pulley easiest for you to reach, depending on what kind of vehicle you’re working on). Rotate the tensioner back into position. Shine the flashlight on the tensioner pulley and examine the pulley face.
What happens when a belt tensioner goes bad?
When the tensioner or tensioner pulley fails, the loss of tension can cause the belt and pulleys to make high-pitched rattling or chirping noises. If the pulley bearing completely fails, it can also cause a squealing or even a grinding noise.
Shine the flashlight on the tensioner pulley and examine the pulley face. If there’s evidence of glazing on the pulley surface, the belt has been slipping on it.