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.
What are the symptoms of a bad belt tensioner?
Squeaking or Grinding Noise. One of the most common symptoms of a failing belt tensioner is unusual noise coming from either the tensioner or the drive belts. 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.
Why does my belt tensioner make a grinding noise?
If the noise you hear is similar to a grinding sound, then it is possible that the tensioner bearings or the tensioner pulley is the problem. These parts tend to wear out. This is what causes the grinding noise since the metal parts will be rubbing against each other. This is another symptom of a failing belt tensioner.
Why does the tensioner make a squeaking noise?
Since the tensioner is not able to maintain the correct tension on the belts, it produces a squealing or squeaking sound. This is most evident on the drive belts. If the noise you hear is similar to a grinding sound, then it is possible that the tensioner bearings or the tensioner pulley is the problem.
What kind of belt tensioner is Honda Odyssey?
I told her it was either the serpentine belt or the belt tensioner if the power steering and the alternator were out, and if it was the belt it was not a difficult job to replace.
Why is the tensioner on my Honda Odyssey bleeding?
The tensioner “bleeding” is new to me. The car lot from which I bought the Ody had the timing belt and water pump replaced just before I got it and assuming that the tensioner is removed as part of that process, his shop may not have known to “bleed” the tensioner three times before re-installing the belt- I wouldn’t have thought of that myself.
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.
How to know if your belt tensioner is bad?
Symptoms of a Bad or Failing Belt Tensioner 1 Squeaking or Grinding Noise. 2 Unusual Belt Wear. 3 Failure of the Belt-driven Accessories to Operate. 4 Bleeding Rust and Presence of Cracks. 5 Excessive Wear of Pulley Bearing. 6 Visible Signs of Pulley Wear. 7 Excessive Sideward Movement of the Tensioner Arm. 8 Loss of Tensioner Spring Force.
Why do you need tension in a belt drive?
Because if no belt forces would act on the slack side, this would mean nothing else than that the belt would have no tension. However, a belt tension is absolutely necessary so that the belt can press against the pulleys and thus generate the necessary static friction for power transmission.
Symptoms of a Bad or Failing Belt Tensioner 1 Squeaking or Grinding Noise. 2 Unusual Belt Wear. 3 Failure of the Belt-driven Accessories to Operate. 4 Bleeding Rust and Presence of Cracks. 5 Excessive Wear of Pulley Bearing. 6 Visible Signs of Pulley Wear. 7 Excessive Sideward Movement of the Tensioner Arm. 8 Loss of Tensioner Spring Force.
How big of a tension tester do I need for a belt drive?
The range of a typical tester is up to 35 lb, which takes care of V-belt and synchronous belt drives in lower horsepower ranges, up to 100 hp. Sophisticated force measuring gauges are available with full-scale ranges up to 100 lb. Frequency tension testers claim to be especially suited for tensioning synchronous belt drives.
How do you tell if a belt tensioner is bad?
The most common symptom of a bad or failing drive belt tensioner is noise from the belts or tensioner. If the tensioner is loose the belts may squeak or squeal, especially when the engine is first started. It is also possible for the tensioner pulley or bearing to wear out, in which case the vehicle will produce a grinding noise from the pulley.
What is the purpose of a belt tensioner?
A belt tensioner is utilized in different parts of the automobile engine, such as the serpentine belt. The main purpose of any belt tensioner is to tighten the engine belt, allowing the belt to energize congruent parts of an engine, such as the serpentine belt to the alternator.
How often should a belt tensioner be replaced?
Typically automobile experts advise a serpentine belt replacement or even a serpentine belt tensioner replacement once every three or four years, or after every 36,000 to 48,000 miles. This helps guard against unexpected belt failure which can leave you stranded and severely damage other engine components.
How do you loosen belt tensioner?
Turn the bolt head in the center of the spring-loaded arm of the belt tensioner counterclockwise with a ratchet and socket to loosen the bolt. The tensioner will rotate freely before it comes to a stop. When the spring-loaded arm comes to a stop, continue to turn the bolt until the bolt loosens.
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.
Why does my belt tensioner make a squealing sound?
This is especially the case when starting the engine first thing in the morning. Since the tensioner is not able to maintain the correct tension on the belts, it produces a squealing or squeaking sound. This is most evident on the drive belts.
Where is the serpentine belt tensioner located on a car?
This is a pulley that is either mounted to an adjustable pivot point or a spring mechanism. If you open up the hood of your car, you’ll see that the serpentine belt is on the front of your engine. It is the long one. The pulley itself is found on the outside of the belt, which is how it adds tension or pressure.
Where can I buy a serpentine belt tensioner?
Take a look at our selection of belt tensioners sourced from top aftermarket brands such as ACDelco, Dorman, Duralast, Continental and URO. Our inventory includes tensioners and belt component kits containing serpentine belts along with the idler pulleys or tensioners you need to make a full replacement and get back on the road.
What do you need to know about belt tension?
F2 = belt tension, slack side ra = radius of pulley a rb = radius of pulley b Na = speed of pulley a Nb = speed of pulley b m = mass of belt per unit length P = power transmitted μ = coefficient of friction between belt and pulley Fo = initial belt tension θ a = arc of belt contact pulley a θ b = arc of belt contact pulley b
What are the symptoms of a bad drive belt tensioner?
Another symptom of a potential problem with the drive belt tensioner is unusual belt 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
Do I need to replace the belt tensioner?
- some front wheel drive vehicles need to have the engine supported before tensioner removal.
- remove engine mount retainer nuts.
- the engine will become loose during this step.
- Once all mounting bolts and nuts have been removed the engine mount can be removed.
Do belt tensioners go bad?
A bad belt tensioner is a likely cause of belt damage. However, if your belt is old and has not been replaced in several years, it might just be normal wear and tear. Push down on the middle of the belt while the engine is off and the components are cool enough to touch.
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.
When do you know you need to replace your belt tensioner?
If you notice that there is resistance, roughness, or noise every time you turn the pulley, then there’s a chance that the problem is in the pulley bearings. You might think of replacing only the pulley bearings in this case. Mechanics will tell you to replace the entire belt tensioner system.
Where can I find the tensioner pulley on my belt?
Locate the tensioner pulley. The tensioner pulley has a smooth surface that the top of the belt — the side with no grooves — rides on. Put a socket on the bolt and turn the bolt counterclockwise to break it loose.
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.
Why is my pulley bolt not coming out?
Though this particular bolt doesn’t usually seem to have problems, sometimes it can rust or have some other issue, causing the bolt to not come out easily. If this is the case, spray it with lubricant and allow it to set for a few minutes to give the lubricant time to work down the threads of the bolt.
What happens when a belt tensioner goes bad?
When the tensioner has an issue, it can affect the how the belts drive the pulleys which can affect the performance and functionality of the vehicle. Usually a bad or failing tensioner will produce a few symptoms that can alert the driver of a potential problem that should be serviced.