belt tensioner

wifes05crd · **Joined:** Wed Jul 04, 2012 8:28 am **Posts:** 22

I had a noise that I originally believed to be a power steering pump problem but after opening the hood found the serpentine belt to be loose. The tensioner has a pulley (to the left and a little lower) rubbing up against it (where it attaches to the block). I was having trouble finding postings on replacement. Any info would be appreciated. 152K with no serious problems (thanks to the forum). I was going to add photo but couldn't quite figure that out. Thanks in advance.

WWDiesel · **Posted:** Wed Apr 19, 2017 1:24 pm

wifes05crd wrote:

I had a noise that I originally believed to be a power steering pump problem but after opening the hood found the serpentine belt to be loose. The tensioner has a pulley (to the left and a little lower) rubbing up against it (where it attaches to the block). I was having trouble finding postings on replacement. Any info would be appreciated. 152K with no serious problems (thanks to the forum). I was going to add photo but couldn't quite figure that out. Thanks in advance.

Mopar and Litens are both good ones, stay away from Crown, they are junk! :roll:

IDParts has them:> http://www.idparts.com/timing-belt-tens ... -2754.html
OEM Part Number: 5142798AA

SasquatchParts also has them in a kit with belt and idler pulleys if needed:> https://shop.sasquatchparts.com/product ... -2-8l-crd/

As to posting pictures; you must first put them on Photobucket or Dropbox or some other web hosting service and then post a link between [img]?[/img] brackets to show on LOST... :wink:

wifes05crd · **Joined:** Wed Jul 04, 2012 8:28 am **Posts:** 22

Thanks for the info. I'll check out the kit. I'm not sure yet if its the idler or tensioner that failed. Looks like it in a tight spot.

GordnadoCRD · **Posted:** Wed Apr 19, 2017 5:47 pm

I hope it works for you.

I'm having a hell of a time trying to upload anything to Photophucket. It gets to the point I have to walk away and work on something else for a while.

geordi · **Posted:** Wed Apr 19, 2017 6:55 pm

Two things have failed: Your alternator clutched pulley has failed, which is what caused the rubber core in the tensioner to fail and the casing of the tensioner to separate and press into the back of the power steering pulley.

You can remove the power steering pulley with just those three bolts, but you *WILL* need to replace the clutched pulley on the alternator or the new tensioner will be just like this one in short order. Very common failure. When you hear the tweety bird under your hood or see the tensioner bouncing excessively, replace the alternator pulley again. The alternator itself should be kept as long as possible, the Japanese Denso is a very very high quality unit and replacements are all rebuilt from China or Mexico.

Tool sets for replacing the pulley are available at IDparts or Amazon.

wifes05crd · **Joined:** Wed Jul 04, 2012 8:28 am **Posts:** 22

Thanks. I really appreciate the advice. I've got parts ordered. I heard somewhere that some bolts may be left handed. Any truth to that and if so which ones? I'm going to do power steering, tensioner, idlers, and alternator clutch pulley. I also ordered the tool for the alternator pulley

WWDiesel · **Posted:** Thu Apr 20, 2017 2:38 pm

wifes05crd wrote:

Thanks. I really appreciate the advice. I've got parts ordered. I heard somewhere that some bolts may be left handed. Any truth to that and if so which ones? I'm going to do power steering, tensioner, idlers, and alternator clutch pulley. I also ordered the tool for the alternator pulley

Timing belt Idler pulley retaining bolts are left handed threads. :wink:

joe_ · **Posted:** Thu Apr 20, 2017 6:19 pm

Serpentine belt idler pulleys are also left hand thread. Tensioner is standard thread though.

geordi · **Posted:** Thu Apr 20, 2017 7:17 pm

The serpentine belt has only two reverse thread: The two non-tensioner idlers. The pulley on the tensioner is standard thread, but that pulley will come with the new tensioner.

The rest of the pulleys are all standard thread, and there is no reason to replace the pulley for the power steering - it is just a wheel of steel, the moving parts are inside the power steering pump. The harmonic balancer pulley *might* need to be replaced, but that is only if there are gaps in the rubber gasket (you can see this from the back when it is removed) or it is banging when the engine is running.

The alternator is a little tricky to remove the pulley. The "center" shaft is a 10mm that the special socket will connect with. The outside is a 17mm hex that the tool's allen key will fit into. Hold the center steady, and the 17mm turns counter-clockwise (lefty-loosey) like any other bolt to remove the pulley. You do not need to use mega strength when reinstalling it, hand tight is fine. The pulley is self-tightening while the engine is running.

flash7210 · **Posted:** Sat Apr 22, 2017 9:46 pm

My serpentine tensioner took a dump yesterday.
I needed a new one now, not a week from now.
The best I could was order a Omix-Ada tensioner from amazon, next day delivery.
I'm sure it's equal to Crown in quality. Don't care. Couldn't wait any longer.

It arrived on time today and installed with no issues.
Heck, my wife even helped me install it. Which was totally weird and exciting.
Today was a pretty amazing day on multiple levels.
But I digress...

Even if that tensioner only lasts for two weeks, it's totally worth it.

WWDiesel · **Posted:** Sat Apr 22, 2017 10:36 pm

flash7210 wrote:

Even if that tensioner only lasts for two weeks, it's totally worth it.

Hopefully it will last much longer than that!!! :ROTFL:

I don't think their parts are bad and do not have the bad reputation that Crown parts do... :roll:

wifes05crd · **Joined:** Wed Jul 04, 2012 8:28 am **Posts:** 22

I replaced my tensioner and idlers with no problem. I ordered them from IDparts Thursday and had them Saturday morning.

The alternator tool they sell is for a TDI though. They don't have a tool for a CRD. Is there one available somewhere? Otherwise, I'll come up with what I need based off of previous post. Thanks

WWDiesel · **Posted:** Mon Apr 24, 2017 1:58 pm

wifes05crd wrote:

I replaced my tensioner and idlers with no problem. I ordered them from IDparts Thursday and had them Saturday morning.

The alternator tool they sell is for a TDI though. They don't have a tool for a CRD. Is there one available somewhere? Otherwise, I'll come up with what I need based off of previous post. Thanks

A 3/8 drive 10mm allen wrench on an impact (air or coldless) will take the pulley right off! Hold the pulley with one hand (gloved) and spin the alternator shaft with the impact. It will come right off, changed several this way with no special tools!!!

or get this kit:
Lisle Tools 57650 Alternator Pulley Decoupler Tool Kit :google:

> http://www.lislecorp.com/divisions/prod ... roduct=604

Amazon, eBay, Summit Racing, and many other sale them! :wink:

geordi · **Posted:** Tue Apr 25, 2017 1:21 am

If you do it that way with the 10mm - set the gun to TIGHTEN (clockwise) since you are driving the shaft and not the pulley.

Otherwise you will never get it off, and actually just make the job a lot harder.

WWDiesel · **Posted:** Tue Apr 25, 2017 12:29 pm

geordi wrote:

If you do it that way with the 10mm - set the gun to TIGHTEN (clockwise) since you are driving the shaft and not the pulley.

Correct!!!!

belt tensioner

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