How do you change a pulley on a belt tensioner?

Place the automatic belt tensioner into a bench vise, being careful not to overtighten the clamps. Many tensioners are made of lightweight aluminum and can easily crack. Position the tensioner in the vise so you can access the pulley bolt. Turn the pulley bolt counterclockwise with a ratchet and a socket.

What to do if your drive belt tensioner is faulty?

Check for any noise in the engine (usually a squeaky or grinding noise). Remove the drive belt (s) (in most cases). Inspect drive belt pulleys. Check the drive belt tensioner. Remove and replace the tensioner if faulty. Start car to see if noise is gone. Your drive belt tensioner should always be inspected when your drive belt is serviced.

How does a serpentine belt tensioner work?

Most modern vehicles use a serpentine belt to run the engine accessories such as the power steering, air conditioning and alternator. The belt routes around the pulleys in a serpent-like manner, hence the name. A belt tensioner that consists of a bolt plate that mounts on the engine, a spring-loaded arm and a pulley applies tension to the belt.

Why is my engine not going back on when I replace the pulley?

If the belt is not going back on, it’s because it’s not aligned properly, the ribs of the belt are not properly sitting in the grooves on one or more pulleys, or the wrong-sized belt was purchased for replacement. Automatic belt tensioners that are easily accessible may not be required to remove from the engine if you’re just replacing the pulley.

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.

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.

Is my belt tensioner 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.

Where is the belt tensioner on a car?

Obtain the belt routing diagram from the repair manual if you’re replacing the belt as well. Locate the automatic belt tensioner on the side or front of the engine. Inspect the tensioner to use the right tool to release the tension on the belt so you can remove it from the pulley.

How big is the inlet on a tensioner pulley?

Inspect the tensioner to use the right tool to release the tension on the belt so you can remove it from the pulley. Some may feature a 3/8-inch square-drive or 1/2-inch square-drive inlet that an appropriate-sized ratchet or serpentine belt tool adapter will fit into.

Can a tensioner be removed from an engine?

Automatic belt tensioners that are easily accessible may not be required to remove from the engine if you’re just replacing the pulley. Once the belt is removed from the pulley, you can remove the pulley bolt and washer and then remove the pulley to replace the new one.

When to replace serpentine belt tensioner — Ricks free?

A good belt tensioner will dampen the power pulses so much that the tensioner pulley arm barely moves. As the dampener wears the pulses cause the belt to flutter and that can be seen on the pulley arm. A belt tensioner pulley arm should not move more than 1/32”.

How can I check my belt tensioner bearings?

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. Any binding, roughness or wobble means these parts are bad and need to be replaced.

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.

What noise does a bad tensioner pulley make?

Any noise that sounds like a squealing, whirling, or chirping might be a sign that the tensioner is weakening. The pulley bearings should be ruled out first because loose bearings can also cause such a noise.

What happens when the serpentine belt fails on an alternator?

The serpentine belt powers the alternator, and if it fails, the alternator will stop working the moment your belt wears out and breaks, or the pulley becomes damaged. This can also happen if the serpentine belt is not tightened correctly. Most cars have automatic tensioners, but these can fail, so it is better to double-check.

When do you need to replace serpentine belt tensioner?

If you see more, the dampening mechanism is worn and the tensioner must be replaced. If the serpentine belt tensioner arm moves more than 1/32″ while engine is running, the vibration dampener in the tensioner is worn out.

How to diagnose a belt tensioner problem?

USE A WEAR GAUGE. See this post on how to check a belt for wear. Using the proper tool, rotate the belt tensioner to release tension. Remove the serpentine belt. The tensioner should rotate smoothly during compression and during release. Any binding, no matter how small is an indication of a serious tensioner problem.

How is a pulley Nut installed on an alternator?

The pulley nut uses standard, right-hand threads, rotate in a counter-clockwise direction for removal as looking at the front of the alternator. 2. Alternator pulleys do not have a key and should be a slip fit. sometime thread locking needed to remove the pulley, do not overheat. Install the new pulley, lock washer, and nut by hand.

Can a manual tensioner be used to replace an alternator?

The belt tensioner will only travel (swing) so far which can make installing the belt difficult. Never pry or force the belt onto the pulley. Vehicles with a manual tensioner or the belt tightens with the alternator, there should about ½ inch of deflection in the belt between the pulleys with the greatest distance between them. 7

What should be the deflection between the belt and the pulley?

Never pry or force the belt onto the pulley. Vehicles with a manual tensioner or the belt tightens with the alternator, there should about ½ inch of deflection in the belt between the pulleys with the greatest distance between them.

What should be the deflection between the drive belt and alternator?

Vehicles with a manual tensioner or the belt tightens with the alternator, there should about ½ inch of deflection in the belt between the pulleys with the greatest distance between them. Once the alternator, drive belt, and electrical connections are reinstalled, scan the work area and make sure nothing has been overlooked.

How do you replace a pulley in an engine?

Turn the pulley bolt counterclockwise with a ratchet and a socket. Remove the bolt, the retaining washer and the pulley. Replace the pulley, washer and bolt and tighten to specified torque illustrated in the repair manual. Replace the tensioner in the engine and replace the bolt. Tighten to specified torque.

How do you change a pulley on a belt tensioner?