how to remove the spring loaded belt tensioner the serpentine belt is kept tight with.
i replaced the serpentine belt a year ago and now the belt is so loose that i can easily grasp it between my thumb and finger and can turn it 180 degrees plus between the two top driver side pulleys.when idling my alternator is not supplying enough voltage to keep the battery fully charged.i think this is because the belt is so loose. i removed the belt and the pulley but i don't know how to remove the spring loaded piece. your advice would be greatly appreciated.a mechanic friend told me that the spring loaded tensioners can get full of debris and rust so that they no longer hold the belt
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
Hey there. You will need to remove the entire housing that contains the spring. Belt tensioners are replaced as a unit. In the case of the 4.7L Toyota Motor, you will need to remove a couple of the plastic timing covers to allow the tensioner assembly to slide out and off of its studs. Once you remove the timing covers, you will be able to see the entire assembly and identify which bolts and nuts must be removed to remove the tensioner. You may need to remove the fan belt pulley to remove one or more of the covers. I suggest purchasing a new one first, then you will be able to see all that needs to happen. If you should need help with this project, or would simply like it to be done for you, have a certified technician from YourMechanic come to your car’s location to assist with your drive belt replacement.
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The way to remove tension will be to pivot the tensioner using a tool (1) on the nut of the tensioner pulley, or (2) a special tool-lug outcropping from the tensioner or (3) in a square opening in the bracket of the tensioner pulley, cover or cap that protects the spring.
The GEARWRENCH Serpentine Belt Tool is used to release the tension on the serpentine belt and self-adjusting idler pulley.
Use a ratchet or breaker bar that fits into the bolt and release the tensioner.
Misalignment and bearing wear can cause the belt to track off-center and will cause it to wear quickly. Check the tensioner and idler pulley bearings by removing the belt and spinning the pulleys by hand. All pulleys should turn freely with no binding, roughness or wobble.
The main physical difference between an idler pulley and tensioner pulley is a simple adjustable bolt! However, in terms of function and purpose, an idler pulley is responsible for guiding a belt drive in an engine or mechanical system, while a tensioner pulley is responsible for tensioning the drive belt.
Belt tension is adjusted by moving the drive motor position (forward or rearward) in an iterative process until the belt tension meets specification. Remove the drive belt. It is recommended that you walk the belt off the smaller drive motor pulley.
Without the pin, the tensioner would simply spin around the mounting bolt and wouldn`t apply pressure to the belt. If a pin was in the wrong location on the tensioner, the tensioner would either apply too much or too little pressure to the belt.
Without the pin, the tensioner would simply spin around the mounting bolt and wouldn`t apply pressure to the belt. If a pin was in the wrong location on the tensioner, the tensioner would either apply too much or too little pressure to the belt.
Serpentine belt replacement is easy because today`s automatic drive belt tensioners eliminate the need to loosen bolts or pry components into position for retensioning. Just rotate the tensioner, remove the old belt and install a new one.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
how to remove the spring loaded belt tensioner the serpentine belt is kept tight with.
ANSWER : Hey there. You will need to remove the entire housing that contains the spring. Belt tensioners are replaced as a unit. In the case of the 4.7L Toyota Motor, you will need to remove a couple of the plastic timing covers to allow the tensioner assembly to slide out and off of its studs. Once you remove the timing covers, you will be able to see the entire assembly and identify which bolts and nuts must be removed to remove the tensioner. You may need to remove the fan belt pulley to remove one or more of the covers. I suggest purchasing a new one first, then you will be able to see all that needs to happen. If you should need help with this project, or would simply like it to be done for you, have a certified technician from YourMechanic come to your car’s location to assist with your drive belt replacement.
hey i had a belt break while traveling on my 2004 honda pilot. It is the small belt and not the serpentine belt. The mechanic t
ANSWER : Hello. The smaller belt is known as your timing belt, and it works inside the engine to keep mechanical components aligned with each other during the compression cycle. The serpentine belt, which is the big belt, drives the alternator, water pump, AC compressor, and a couple of other components. If the small belt broke it is likely the timing belt. This will cause the car to stall, lights to illuminate, and can even cause serious damage to the engine. Typically replacing a timing belt is a lot more complicated and expensive than replacing a serpentine belt. You may want to receive a second opinion on the car before you go ahead with repairs.
Serpentine belt is rubbing on the engine cover at the belt tensioner pulley 2004 Hyundai Tiburon
ANSWER : Hi there – I would start by doing a visual inspection of the serpentine belt, and the pulleys – are they visually in line? If not, which pulley is out of line in the direction of the engine cover? Are there bushings on the alternator mount which have softened, and are allowing the alternator to "give" such that the serpentine belt is close to the cover? The crankshaft pulley is not likely moving at all. Is the cover where the rubbing occurs coming loose, and moving into the serpentine belt? For assistance, I would recommend a serpentine belt replacement by a mobile, professional mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, who will come to your location, diagnose this problem, give you an accurate assessment of damage and cost estimate for repairs.
What is the correct procedure for tightening the belt tensioner on a 2001 Chevy Monte Carlo? We put the new belt on.
ANSWER : The belt tensioner on your vehicle should have an automatic tensioner, however, some models have the manual tensioner. Tighten the tensioner to where the belt is tight but loose in the middle length area as about the width of the belt. This ensures that the drive belt is tight and not pulling too much on any accessory pulley. If you need further assistance with your drive belt replacement, then seek out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you.
Timing belt is tight and yet appears to be slipping several teeth when belt is rotated,
ANSWER : This is okay since there are more notches on the belt than the amount on the sprockets. Once you aligned the first time the belt marks will almost never line up perfectly again. The marks are used to put the belt on correctly. They aren’t used as an indicator after the engine is turned again. You should be okay to start the motor as long as timing marks on pulleys line up. If you run into any issues, have a certified technician, like one from YourMechanic, assist you with the replacement of the timing belt.
After belt replacement, belt tensioner squeaks and is loose
ANSWER : More likely mileage and time wore the tensioner out. The tensioner bearing wears out with mileage – it’s good to replace the tensioner pulley/bearing when replacing the belt. The tensioner itself is spring-actuated, and the spring can get weak over the years. The squeaking is likely from the tensioner bearing itself. If you decide to get it fixed, consider YourMechanic, as a certified technician can help you replace your belt tensioner as necessary.
Can you change the defected water pump without changing its defected belt (which is the drive belt and only belt in this model of
ANSWER : Hello. Yes you can replace the water pump without replacing the serpentine belt. If the belt is worn, and it breaks while you are driving, you can damage a lot of other components in that area. Typically the price of a serpentine belt is relatively inexpensive. You will have to remove the belt to replace the water pump anyway. Since you are likely going to have to purchase a new pump, we do recommend that you purchase a belt at the same time. You SHOULD replace the belt if it is worn, and this is a perfect time to do it. It is not necessarily required, but you are putting yourself at risk of another break down at a later time. Not to mention if the belt is already worn, manipulating off and back onto the vehicle while changing the water pump can further damage it, and shorten the amount of time its got left. Belts should be replaced before they break, as to the amount of damage they can cause when they do break. Again, you may be able to get away with not replacing the belt right now, but if its as worn as you say, its going to break sooner than later and should be replaced.
Looking for possible solutions for a serpentine belt chirp 3 weeks after getting it and the tensioner pulley replaced.
ANSWER : Hello there. It is possible that the serpentine belt is not installed straight, which tends to create the type of squeaking noise you are talking about. It is also possible that the pulley was not properly lubricated. If either of these are true and causing the squeak, it should be corrected sooner rather than later, as it can lead to premature wear and tear. The best way to correctly diagnose this problem is to have a professional mechanic come to your location and complete a car is making a noise inspection.
