Where is the tensioner on a drive belt?
It is the long one. The pulley itself is found on the outside of the belt, which is how it adds tension or pressure. The problem with the drive belt tensioner is that once it goes, it usually means replacing the pulleys and sometimes the drive belt itself. It’s not usually a one-part replacement job.
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.
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.
How to set the belt tension with no tools?
Part of the process is having a tool which holds the eccentric pulley whilst you tighten the nut. I made such a tool, with 2 x 3.8mm pins set 10mm apart, and an offset handle to clear the airbox (on the rear head). The other part of the process is checking them frequently – particularly after fitting new belts, or doing trackdays.
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.
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.
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.
What should the tension be on a V belt?
Correct V-Belt tensioning is the single most important factor necessary for long, satisfactory operation. How you tension a belt at installation will determine how long the belt will run. Too little tension results in slippage, excess heat, and premature belt & pulley wear.
How is the tension set on a serpentine belt?
Depending on the application, your serpentine belt will either have tension placed on it using a movable bracket or an auto tensioner pulley. This pulley uses an internal spring to apply consistent pressure to the belt at all times. If your vehicle does not have a tensioner pulley, the alternator bracket is likely how tension is set on the belt.
How much tension do you need for a V-belt?
Designed for the tension testing of a drive with two or more belts, this pocket-sized tool measures V-belts from 10” to 170” and up to 35 pounds of tension. Measure belt span and measure the force required to deflect any one of the belts 1/64” for every inch of span length.
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.
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 easy is it to change the serpentine belt?
How to Replace Your Serpentine Belt Note the placement of belt. Serpentine belts have that name for a reason. Loosen and unthread the belt. Before removing the belt, you’ll need to release the tensioner, which automatically keeps the belt taut while you’re driving. Check for damage. After removing the belt, inspect it for signs of damage. Install the new belt.
What is the function of a belt tensioner?
Belt tensioners are extremely important in the proper operation of the accessory belt drive system. A tensioner maintains the correct amount of tension on the belt at all times throughout its duty cycle. It also helps protect other components such as the alternator and water pump from undue stress and premature failure.
Why do you need tensioner on serpentine belts?
Both are used to keep tension on the engine serpentine belts so that they can drive the various engine accessories. 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.
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.
What does a spring tensioner do on an engine?
Spring tensioners are designed to tension automatically while the pivot design types can be adjusted manually. Both are used to keep tension on the engine serpentine belts so that they can drive the various engine accessories.
When to replace a faulty timing belt tensioner?
If you are going to replace the tensioner, it is also a good time to replace the timing belt and the related parts. Since there are many other parts located at the front of the engine that can make similar noises to a failing tensioner, it is important to isolate the noise.
How do you replace a belt tensioner on a car?
These cars use a lever type belt tensioner with a lock mechanism built in. To replace the belt tensioner, first remove the headlights, serpentine belt and lock carrier. Once the serpentine belt is removed from the engine, loosen and remove the two Torx bolts on the front of the tensioner and lift it away from the engine.
Do you need to replace the belt tensioner on a Mini Cooper?
The Non-S Cooper models use a different design for the belt tensioner, however, it does require that you remove the engine mount as with the Cooper S. Begin by removing the serpentine belt (Refer to our article on serpentine belt replacement for more information).
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.
How often should I replace my tensioner belt?
This is a good way to detect early warning signs of any possible problems. It should be noted that the drive belt itself will most likely need replacing before the tensioner does. Drive belts typically last anywhere between 40,000 and 70,000 miles.
Where is the serpentine belt on a car?
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.
It is the long one. The pulley itself is found on the outside of the belt, which is how it adds tension or pressure. The problem with the drive belt tensioner is that once it goes, it usually means replacing the pulleys and sometimes the drive belt itself. It’s not usually a one-part replacement job.
This is a good way to detect early warning signs of any possible problems. It should be noted that the drive belt itself will most likely need replacing before the tensioner does. Drive belts typically last anywhere between 40,000 and 70,000 miles.
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.