What does a drive belt tensioner do?
What does a drive belt tensioner do?
A drive belt tensioner is a pulley mounted on a spring mechanism or adjustable pivot point that is used to keep tension on the engine belts. Spring tensioners are designed to tension automatically while the pivot design types can be adjusted manually.
How to replace a / C drive belts on a Chevy Silverado?
Place the tip of the stethoscope on the non-moving, center bolt of the idler pulley (shown in Figure 2). Repeat on the center bolt of the main tensioner and the A/C tensioner, as shown. For the DIY guide on replacing tensioners and belts, refer to this article: How to Replace A/C Belt Tensioner. Figure 1. GMT800 accessory and A/C drive belts.
How does a 3 / 8 ” drive belt work?
Using the 3/8″ drive ratchet, relieve tension on the tensioner and slip the belt back over that pulley and slowly release the tension. Attached is a diagram of the belt routing: ( Support )
How is the serpentine belt in a Chev?
Pictures, diagrams of serpentine belt routing. 2.4L. Belt Diagram 3.4 DOHC Cam Engine Drive Belt Diag… 3.5L Engine Serpentine Belt in Chev… 4.2L Inline Six Cylinder Engine Bel… 3800 V6 Belt Routing Picture and Ro…
How do you replace a / C belt tensioner on a Chevy Silverado?
Rotate the tensioner clockwise against the spring, and hold it. Then slip the belt off the tensioner pulley. Release the tensioner slowly back to the spring stop. Slip the belt off the crank pulley and let it hang. Figure 4. Accessory drive belt removal. Examine the belt for cracked ribs or fraying, and consider replacing it.
When did my bottom belt tensioner go out on my Tahoe?
Needed to replace the bottom AC belt tensioner (38259) on our 2003 Tahoe after 129k. Figured while that one was going out it might not be long before this one went.
Using the 3/8″ drive ratchet, relieve tension on the tensioner and slip the belt back over that pulley and slowly release the tension. Attached is a diagram of the belt routing: ( Support )
Can a bad a / C belt tensioner be replaced?
Both noises point to a bad A/C belt tensioner. With basic tools and little time, you can replace the tensioner in your Silverado quickly in the comfort of your own garage. This article applies to the Chevrolet Silverado GMT800 (1999-2006).
What’s the best way to replace a drive pulley?
It was all I could do to get the belt back on the drive pulley even with a helper pulling back on the tension pulley. Just in replace the tension spring without getting a finger pinched. Any ideas without buying a specialty tool?
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.
What is tool used to remove mower belt tension spring?
He still does it the same way just puts the spannar on then snugs up the lock nut on top. The one that really blew me away was an 80+ farmer who welded a couple of turnbuckles together to make his special tool and welded a bolt onto the arm to slip the ring end over.
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.
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 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!!!
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.
Do You need A tensioner pulley on a stretch belt?
Stretch belts don’t need tensioner pulleys but are “stretched” into place using a special tool—always use the special tool to prevent belt damage. Tensioner pulleys generally fall into two categories: accessory-integrated (AI) and non-accessory-integrated (NAI).
How do you loosen a tensioner on an alternator?
To loosen an AI tensioner, such as an alternator, loosen the main mounting bolt, usually on the engine, and the locking bolt, usually on a bracket or arm. If equipped with a tensioner screw, back off the tensioner screw. Then, push the alternator toward the other pulleys, loosening the belt.
When do you remove the lock on a tensioner pulley?
Remove the lock only after the tensioner, pulley, or slipper, and timing belt or timing chain are installed and aligned. The next time you work with a drive belt, timing belt, or timing chain, you’ll likely have to loosen a tensioner pulley to remove it.
How do you tension a power transmission belt?
First determine the proper deflection force required to tension the timing belt. Deflection forces are given in the timing belt manufacturer’s tables and/or power transmission drive design online calculators. Then place a straightedge across the top of the timing belt.
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.
What are the signs of a bad belt tensioner?
Common signs include grinding or squeaking noises coming from the belt, unusual belt wear, and belt-driven accessories like the alternator failing. 1. Grinding or squeaking noise from the belts or tensioner 2. Unusual belt wear 3. Belt-driven accessories fail
Which is the correct way to tension a V-belt?
The meter will report the belt tension in units of force. On new installations, hand rotate the system at least one full revolution of the belt in order to seat and normalize the components. When tensioning an array of V-belts, use a single belt toward the center.
First determine the proper deflection force required to tension the timing belt. Deflection forces are given in the timing belt manufacturer’s tables and/or power transmission drive design online calculators. Then place a straightedge across the top of the timing belt.
Can a bad belt tensioner cause a problem?
A failing belt tensioner can cause a lot of problems in your vehicle. The squeaking, squealing and grinding noises can certainly get on your nerves, but the potential problems caused by a bad tensioner are far more than just casual annoyances.
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 are the signs that an alternator is failing?
Common signs include grinding or squeaking noises coming from the belt, unusual belt wear, and belt-driven accessories like the alternator failing. 1. Grinding or squeaking noise from the belts or tensioner 2. Unusual belt wear 3. Belt-driven accessories fail Average rating from 129,829 customers who received a Vehicle Engine Mechanical Inspection.
What’s the best way to check belt tension?
Check the belt tension regularly, retensioning the belts as required. Keep the regrind clean. Routinely check rotating blade and bed knife wear. Replace blades or bed knives on a routine schedule or as required, based on the materials being granulated. Sharpen knives to the proper angle.
What is the tension of a belt about to slip?
Tension ratio for belt about to slip: where: e = base of natural logarithms (= 2.718). where: belt velocity v = 2π raNa = 2π rbNb (no slip). Effect of centrifugal force: the belt tensions are reduced by mv2 so that
How can I increase the tension on my serpentine belt?
Increase the tension on the belt. If your vehicle does not have an auto tensioner, insert a pry bar or piece of wood between the alternator and the engine. Run the belt over the alternator pulley, then use the bar to pry the alternator away from the engine and increase the tension on the belt.
What happens when you tension a V belt?
Tensioning a V-belt will cause the tensile members of the belt to exert resulting force R on the body of the belt. The body of the belt in turn exerts a total normal force N on the pulley groove. But because the bottom of the belt does not contact the bottom of the pulley, the sidewalls are where the force is exerted.
Which is the correct formula for belt tension?
=�µ𝛩This formula governs the amount of power which can be transmitted before the belt slips. This is the effective tension ratio between the tight and loose sides of the belt. For a belt drive between pulleys of different diameters, the angle of contact of the smaller pulley should be used. Centrifugal Force & Tension
What to do if your belt is loose after routing?
If the belt is loose after routing it, it is either the wrong size belt or you’ve routed it incorrectly. Apply pressure on the auto tensioner and put the belt over it. Use the same wrench to loosen the auto tensioner pulley, then pull the belt over it. Once the belt is in place, release the pressure on the tensioner so it holds the belt in place.
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.
What does a loose belt tensioner sound like?
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. Since the tensioner is not able to maintain the correct tension on the belts, it produces a squealing or squeaking sound.
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.
What will happen if the alternator belt is loose?
Loose Alternator Belt Symptoms. As you continue to drive your vehicle, the alternator belt gets a little bit more worn each day. It could be susceptible to wear and tear damage or it may even come loose from the pulley. Once that happens, you can expect all kinds of symptoms to arise. Nov 4 2019
Is a serpentine belt the same as the alternator belt?
Is the serpentine belt the same as the alternator belt is it just another name for the alternator belt. 1 Answer. Technically, it’s known as a FEAD belt (Front Engine Accessory Drive belt). People call it a serpentine because it can make turns between pulleys and use both sides of the belt. Yes, it’s just another name for an Alternator belt.
Where is the serpentine belt tensioner located?
The serpentine belt is located on the front of the engine because the crankshaft pulley powers it. Remember that the front of your engine does not always equal the front of the car. Your car can also be installed sideways, and this means that your car is located near the right fender of your car in most cases.
