How do you replace a tensioner pulley on a car?

The pulley should be replaced if it has a lot of resistance when you spin it. Open the hood of your vehicle. 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.

How does a spring loaded tensioner pulley work?

The tensioner pulley is on the end of a spring-loaded tensioner. The accessory drive belt rides on the pulley while the spring-loaded portion of the assembly puts tension on the accessory drive belt to keep it tight enough so that it doesn’t slip on the rest of the pulleys.

What causes a belt tensioner pulley to squeak?

Tensioner pulley wear will cause your pulley to squeak. A worn out pulley bearing or a worn spring in the tension pulley can also cause squeaking or a chirp. I show you how to use water to identify what type of squeak problem you have and then how to find the problem.

How much does it cost to change two pulleys?

It’s soooper easy to change these two pulleys and can save you about $100 and a little time if you have some basic tools. 1/2″ drive ratchet and 15mm socket if you need leverage, or 3/8″ too if you’re strong. Only takes about 15-20 minutes to do it yourself. Endurance Kennels is the official YouTube channel of sprint musher Tone Coughlin.

What causes a serpentine belt pulley to squeak?

The serpentine belt in your car powers the accessories such as air conditioning, power steering, the alternator, and waterpump. Tensioner pulley wear will cause your pulley to squeak.

What should I do if my tensioner is not loosening?

Put a socket on the bolt and turn the bolt counterclockwise to break it loose. If it will not break loose because the tensioner wants to move, keep the tensioner from moving by holding it in place with a pry bar; then you will be able to loosen the bolt in the pulley.

The serpentine belt in your car powers the accessories such as air conditioning, power steering, the alternator, and waterpump. Tensioner pulley wear will cause your pulley to squeak.

What is the repair manual for a Dodge Dakota?

Complete list of Dodge Dakota auto service repair manuals: DODGE SPRINTER / MERCEDES BENZ TRANSPORTER / FREIGHTLINER SPRINTER MODEL YEAR 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 SERVICE REPAIR WORKSHOP MANUAL (PDF) 1995 DODGE DAKOTA SERVICE REPAIR MANUAL DOWNLOAD!!!

How to tighten the tension on a serpentine belt?

1 Open the hood and locate the adjustment screw that controls tension on the serpentine belt. 2 Place the socket end of the socket wrench over the wing-nut and turn clockwise to apply tension. 3 Check the tension of the belt periodically. 4 Do a secondary check of the belt tension. …

How much is a belt tensioner pulley for a Dodge Dakota?

The best part is, our Dodge Dakota Belt Tensioner Pulley products start from as little as $14.57. When it comes to your Dodge Dakota, you want parts and products from only trusted brands. Here at Advance Auto Parts, we work with only top reliable Belt Tensioner Pulley product and part brands so you can shop with complete confidence.

What does Dorman’s serpentine belt tensioner pulley do?

Dorman’s Belt Tensioner Pulley is engineered to maintain tension on the serpentine belt for the life of the belt–thereby keeping the alternator charging, the water pump running, and the power steering pump and A/C compressor operating properly. They feature a high-quality double-sealed bearing to resist damage from contaminants.

What makes Dayco no slack idler / tensioner pulleys better?

Dayco No Slack Idler/Tensioner Pulleys are built with smoother surfaces and tighter dimensional tolerances, which translates to less vibration and therefore longer belt life. Lifetime lubricated ball bearings and double high temperature seals assure peak bearing performance, the most critical element of a pulley’s service life.

Where does the tension go on a pulley?

The accessory drive belt rides on the pulley while the spring-loaded portion of the assembly puts tension on the accessory drive belt to keep it tight enough so that it doesn’t slip on the rest of the pulleys.

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.

Is it possible to remove a crank pulley bolt?

If you don’t have any impact tools, removing the crank pulley bolt is next to impossible. You can use the cars’ starter to break that bolt loose. Follow the directions in the video exactly or you can cause some serious damage to person or property. I am not responsible for any damage caused by using this method. Do so at your own risk.

How do you remove tension from a serpentine belt?

Note: It is a very heavy spring tension, and pivoting the tensioner is often not possible with a short handled tool. Hold the tension from the belt, and slip the belt off the auto tensioner pulley to remove the belt and pulley system. Slowly release the tension to avoid damage or injury, and then remove the tool from the belt auto tensioner.

What’s the best way to loosen a pulley belt?

Try both directions, which will require you to flip the selector on the wrench to the opposite direction (so you can loosen or tighten). The tensioner will move only in one direction, and when moved will release its grip on the belt. Make sure you study how the original belt wraps around the various pulleys.

What’s the best way to loosen a NaI pulley?

To loosen an NAI tensioner, loosen the locking nut or bolt, then back off the tensioner screw. Push the pulley toward the other pulleys or accessories, loosening the belt. Spring tensioner pulleys, as the name implies, use a spring to hold tension on the belt.

How do you remove a tensioner pulley?

Hold the tension from the belt, and slip the belt off the auto tensioner pulley to remove the belt and pulley system. Slowly release the tension to avoid damage or injury, and then remove the tool from the belt auto tensioner.

What are the signs of a bad belt tensioner?

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.

How long does a drive belt tensioner last?

Drive belts typically last anywhere between 40,000 and 70,000 miles. There aren’t a lot of warning signs that a drive belt tensioner has hit the end of its lifespan, in fact there is really only one. Once you start to hear a grinding or squeaking sound coming from your engine, it’s time to have the drive belt tensioner looked at.

What is a belt tensioner?

Belt Tensioners. A belt tensioner is a spring-loaded idler wheel that ensures the serpentine belt stays routed on its pulleys at the proper tension. The tensioner is sealed with no lubrication point and has about the same service life as the belt itself.

Remove tension from the belt by loosening the tensioner bolt. Remove the axle bolt completely, remove the pulley. Install the new tensioner pulley. Adjust the belt tension. Check the part and the correct belt tension.

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 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.

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.

How do you replace a tensioner pulley on a car?