Should you replace tensioner?
The drive belt tensioner can wear down over time, just due to normal wear and tear. It’s a good idea to have it inspected each time you have your belt system looked at. The goal is to replace it before it actually breaks down, and causes your vehicle to run less than perfectly.
How often should you replace tensioner?
There is no recommended timeframe in which to replace your tensioner, especially as the belt itself usually needs replacing before the tensioner does. However, you should inspect your tensioner each time you service your car to monitor its condition and replace it if necessary.
When to replace a serpentine belt tensioner?
Repair Topics > Belts Serpentine & Timing > When to replace serpentine… Let’s get this straight from the get-go, a serpentine belt tensioner doesn’t last the life of the vehicle. In fact, most start to show serious wear right around the 100K mile mark. You may think a worn tensioner just means your belt loses tension; you’d be wrong.
How much does it cost to replace a tension pulley?
That being said, when one pulley wears out, the others won’t be far behind. So if you have the extra money, it won’t hurt to go ahead and replace them all at once. Pulleys aren’t terribly expensive. The tensioner will cost about $40 to $50 depending on where you buy it and shipping costs.
What happens when a hydraulic tensioner goes bad?
Hydraulic tensioners can eventually leak, losing both their oil and their ability to tension your drive belt as they should. When your drive belt tensioner is failing (or needs adjustment if you have a manual tensioner), there can be a variety of possible warning signs. These include:
Can a bad belt tensioner cause a car to break?
In more severe instances, a bad tensioner pulley can cause the drive belt to break. 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.