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Inspect the belt tensioner pulley to see what size gap it has for a tool to fit in. If the gap is 1/2 wide and square, as is the case in many vehicles, a standard 1/2 inch ratchet will be sufficient.
What size is the tensioner pulley bolt?
Answering my own question, the size of the bolt on the side of the tensioner is 30mm. I did end up using the method above to release the tension but if you need to do it by yourself you may need a wrench on it.
What tool do I need to loosen a belt tensioner?
Using a serpentine belt tool to loosen the tensioner and a belt placement tool to position the belt, we completed the entire job in less than 15 minutes, without breaking a sweat (or a knuckle). The serpentine belt tool comes with an assortment of sockets, making it the perfect choice for all the cars in your family.
What size socket do I need to change serpentine belt?
Use a 17mm wrench to pull the tension back, then tighten the 13mm bolt which locks the slotted portion in the bracket. Remove the belt, this can be tricky if you are working with an inline drivetrain that is equipped with a mechanical fan.
How do you loosen the tensioner pulley?
Turn the bolt head in the center of the spring-loaded arm of the belt tensioner counterclockwise with a ratchet and socket to loosen the bolt. The tensioner will rotate freely before it comes to a stop. When the spring-loaded arm comes to a stop, continue to turn the bolt until the bolt loosens.
What is a tensioner pulley?
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. When the tensioner has an issue, it can affect the how the belts drive the pulleys which can affect the performance and functionality of the vehicle.
Are tensioner pulley reverse thread?
The PULLEY bolt on the tensioner is left hand thread (turn clockwise to loosen) but the bolt that retains the tensioner to the alternator bracket is standard right hand thread (turn counter-clockwise to loosen). If you are trying to remove the tensioner from the bracket it just takes a little muscle.
How tight should a tensioner pulley be?
When twisted either way from the middle, the tension in the belt must not be more than 12 inch. The belt is too tight if it is twisted more. The positions do not work for the vehicle.
Can you over tighten a tensioner pulley?
A belt shouldn’t be over-tightened. A pulley bearing can be ruined by an over-tightened timing belt.
Where is the tensioner pulley located?
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.
Is tensioner pulley and idler pulley the same?
The primary distinction between tensioners and idler pulleys is the presence of an adjustable bolt. Tensioners are positioned on the bolt through mounting. Idler pulleys are not mounted to an adjustable bolt. However, if bearings fail, tensioner and idler pulleys both require replacement.
Should tensioner be replaced with serpentine belt?
When to Replace Your Belt Tensioner You should expect to replace your belt tensioner in the 40,000-70,000 mile range. It is also customary to swap more than one part simultaneously, usually a worn-out pulley from other systems and even the serpentine belt itself.
Can a belt tensioner making noise?
If any tensioner pulley begins to wear out with time, it’ll create more of a chirping noise. You’ll also hear the chirping noise if the pulley grooves are damaged. This happens over the years due to friction, leading to cracks in the belt.
Are idler pulleys reverse threads?
If it’s just an idler pulley it’s standard. If it’s a tensioner pulley it may be reverse thread depending on the way you need to move the pulley to unload it.
Do you need a torque wrench for serpentine belt?
You need a digital ft-lb torque wrench.
Is a tensioner pulley supposed to move?
Appearance: Cycle the tensioner (mounted on the engine) through the entire range of motion (from stop to stop) by applying torque to the arm with a wrench. The tensioner arm should move smoothly and freely. Solution: If you notice a binding, sticking or grinding tensioner arm, the tensioner should be replaced.
Can you over tighten an alternator belt?
Dear Anthony: A belt should never be over-tightened. An over-tightened belt can burn out any bearing that the belt rotates on, including alternator, power steering pump, A/C compressor, idler pulleys, etc. An over-tightened timing belt can ruin any pulley bearing it is connected with.
Can I stretch a serpentine belt?
But stretching the belt with the right tools is often the only way stretch belts can be installed. Stretch belts can take loads off of the main accessory belt drive, allow for better packaging and solve NVH problems that can occur with a longer serpentine belt.
How much slack should an alternator belt have?
Check the tension of the belt by pushing inward on the belt with your hands. The belt should have no more than a 1/2 inch of slack to be properly tensioned.
Is the idler pulley part of the tensioner?
Idler pulleys serve as tensioners for belt drives, but occasionally, they are there to change a belt’s direction or provide more belt contact on one of the pulleys.
Should I replace idler pulley and tensioner?
If there is any wobble, squeak, or undue friction, the idler pulley should be replaced. The best way to maximize the idler pulley’s lifespan is to maintain proper tension on the serpentine belt and replace belts with new ones whenever required.
