Noisy Tensioner

pg2676 · **Posted:** Wed May 23, 2007 12:53 am

The idler bearing on my accessory belt tensioner is making some clatter on startup in the morning. New OEM is $150, but I'd like to install it myself. Has anyone just replaced the bearing in the belt pulley, or do you have to replace the entire tensioner? I work for a bearing distributor, so if their is a replacement bearing out their, I can probably get it, but I'd like to know a part number or size ahead of time before I tear it apart. If not, how about a step by step on replacing the entir unit?

Thanks in advance.

kolesy · **Posted:** Wed May 23, 2007 1:16 am

Sorry I wont offer much help but.........

This is pretty much how I came about owning my KJ. I was pcs'ing from utah to nc ans stopped to see a friend in Iowa and when I went to leave in the morning there was a horrible RApPING sound coming from the engine bay. Sounded like a lifeter or a bad ring. I thought i was fubar'd mechanics wanted WAy too much to fix it so I got a uhaul and trailer to make it the rest of the way to NC. Keep in mind i replaced the water pump timing belt and both front axles three weeks prior, all by myself by the way. Come to find out once i get to NC the problem was the tensioner for the timing belt!!!! :evil:

GOD darn 60 dollar part ccosted me over 2000 bucks to get to nc. Needless to say I fixed it and 2 days later traded it for my kj and haven't regreted a moment of it!!!

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Wed May 23, 2007 8:52 am

pg2676 wrote:

The idler bearing on my accessory belt tensioner is making some clatter on startup in the morning. New OEM is $150, but I'd like to install it myself. Has anyone just replaced the bearing in the belt pulley, or do you have to replace the entire tensioner? I work for a bearing distributor, so if their is a replacement bearing out their, I can probably get it, but I'd like to know a part number or size ahead of time before I tear it apart. If not, how about a step by step on replacing the entir unit?

Thanks in advance.

You have to replace the whole tensioner,it's real easy just remove serp belt and one bolt(on the tensioner housing itself,15mm bolt)and it's off.Dayco makes a aftermarket tensioner for the KJ,off hand I don't remember the part# but it only cost me $55 from AdvanceAuto parts.I went through to OEM tensioners in 20,000 miles,the Dayco one is still going good after 32,000 miles.

Hood297 · **Posted:** Wed May 23, 2007 10:58 am

I just had mine go out with 72K on it. It had been making noise for a while, but stupid me waited until something happened. 234 bucks later i was on the road again. I would have replaced it sooner had i known that it was the idler pulley. all i can say is dont wait!

pg2676 · **Posted:** Wed May 23, 2007 11:41 am

Mine's making noise @ 165,000km (102,500mi). I'll check around for the Dayco unit. Any idea on the bolt torque?

By the way -- almost had my left rear wheel come off on me yesterday. Get those lugs retorqued after rotating!!!

JMLoughrey · **Posted:** Wed May 23, 2007 12:37 pm

My idler pully went around 60k miles. I had midas check it out, and replace it. Cost me 75 bucks installed.

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Wed May 23, 2007 1:08 pm

pg2676 wrote:

Mine's making noise @ 165,000km (102,500mi). I'll check around for the Dayco unit. Any idea on the bolt torque?

By the way -- almost had my left rear wheel come off on me yesterday. Get those lugs retorqued after rotating!!!

30 ft-lbs

pg2676 · **Posted:** Sat May 26, 2007 3:59 pm

Changed it today. Took 10 minutes and cost $95 CDN @ NAPA. The OEM was a Dayco and the NAPA unit was a Gates (better in my opinion).

Joe Jeeper · **Posted:** Sat May 26, 2007 9:42 pm

I'm on my 4th Tensioner, this one lasted a month then started making a racket only on idle! Could not get one from Advance that would fit tried twice the # they had said it was for my 03 Liberty first one had 1 pulley -no good. Second one had a idler pulley larger than the size of the OEM. I may try the Gates one out. Joe P.S. All three replacements were put on by the dealer on extended warranty.

rubigade · **Posted:** Thu May 31, 2007 12:56 am

Hey guys, just a word... I don't like to go mudding as much as I used to, rock crawling and taking it easy on technical stuff is more fun. Anyhow, after I went mudding with my neighbor, he and his buddies are 16/17 and needed some "edumucation" on the subject, I began to hear a high speed screaming, almost a "filing" sound. It got really loud within 100 or so miles so I took it to my dealer. They listened to it, told me that it was the tensioner and it was warrantied. They ended up replacing my belt too cause it had a little unnecessary wear on the sides of it. I knew it was from my recent wheeling trip because it's the only time I've ever got water and mud over/under my hood. I keep my crap nice! Bottom line, the service guy said it had alot of sand and dust in it. He knows I wheel and then gave me that "I know what you did" smile. I told him not to look at me in that tone of voice... that if the Jeep folks don't want me getting "sand and dust in it", they shouldn't put a "trail rated" badge on it! He concurred siding totally with me and said to bring it back if it happens again because now that part has a 12 month warranty as well as their labor and he'd handle it for me. By the way, I go into my dealership about 3 times a week to shoot the breeze and talk tech. I know them all by name and they know me... Relationships are everything and my dealer is awesome!!!
By the way, get this... they are building the TJ Wrangler "Brute" package and selling them as dealer options, they install Dynatrac axles, among other things, on any Jeep as a dealer option and they just put their first 6.1 liter Hemi powered JK on the lot for sale...AS A DEALER INSTALLED AND WARRANTIED OPTION!!! COOL HUH?

jcphoto20 · **Joined:** Sun Nov 19, 2006 1:36 am **Posts:** 507

anyone try to lube the failing part to prevent it failing?

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Thu May 31, 2007 1:11 am

jcphoto20 wrote:

anyone try to lube the failing part to prevent it failing?

It's mostly the tensioner spring that goes bad,not the idler bearings.

Big D · **Joined:** Mon Jun 05, 2006 10:08 pm **Posts:** 349

Funny, thing my idler bearings seazed and died. The plastic on. Is there a replacement part for it, or do I have the to get the whole idler. Eveything else it good.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Thu May 31, 2007 5:42 pm

A goodyear tensioner would probably be good also. Summit racing has one..

Joe Jeeper · **Posted:** Thu May 31, 2007 11:26 pm

Never had a problem wheelin' with my Grand, 3 Wranglers, a Cherokee that concerned a tensioner or belt! Just this @@#$% Liberty. Got a tensioner from Advance Auto Parts and the idler pulley too big mine is 3" dia. Got one from National Auto same thing idler pulley too big, too close to the crank shaft pulley. They were Dayco and Goodyear respectively the correct part no. for the year but pulley too big. Went down to Jeep Dealer crawled under a 2007 same idler pulley as mine 3" dia., order one aftermarket pulley too big. What the hay!!!!! Gonna go look at a Gates tomorrow morning.. Sick of the Jeep tensioners (made by Dayco) all 4 I had and have make a racheting noise on idle. Joe

Noisy Tensioner

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