serpentine belt tensioner

[gotparts90 10+ year member]

that's why I used to love my leece neville from the rebuild shop down the street. huge pulley on it grabbed the belt great and it was wound so it had almost full output at idle. I got a core then had it rebuilt otherwise they are 1k new. never slipped ever. now the one I have in this grand pricks took a lot of screwing around with because they did not make the right size belt so I was going to go with a bigger idle pulley but just said screw it and shimmed it up a bit. I hate small pulleys.

 

[18lexusowner 10+ year member]

Found out my belt tensioner is seized. That's what caused my belt to burn up.

 

[MikeyB 5,000+ posts]

The tensioner itself is doubtful to be the problem, but rather the pulley. Check the pulley for any play.

 

[mazzasec 5,000+ posts]

MOAB im telling you I had the exact same problems. Mechman suggested a smaller belt. That didnt work. Then he suggested a new serpintine belt. But I was doubtful that was the problem. I think sometimes the Mechman's pulley's are to small. Which probably what causes it to slip. I was fed up with my belt slip for so long I just sold them Mechman and got something different and everything went away.

 

[MasterOfAllBass 10+ year member]

well i know the problem but i cant seem to fix it. The tensioner dose not have enough tension. So when the belt spins the tensioner moves ALOT. When the tensioner stops moving all my problems go away. How do i fix this. the dodge shop told me my tensioner is still good.

When i pull down on the tensioner with my wrench to put more tension on it, everything works great. The belt gets nice and tight! But what do i do to keep it that way?

 

[Pioneer~Saturn 5,000+ posts]

You may be able to find a tensioner that slides and locks in place...I believe older hondas had this...may be worth a shot.

I believe they basically were pushed to where they have good tension and a bolt is tightened to hold them in the track they slide on and hold that tension (somebody step in if im wrong...because im not 100% positive here)

But I think the ultimate solution is better belt wrap on your alt's pulley...an idler pulley or even 2 of them should up the grip on that pulley quite a bit...almost to the point it couldnt slip....just need to find a metal-working guru that makes brackets n such to get it done for ya

 

[MasterOfAllBass 10+ year member]

You may be able to find a tensioner that slides and locks in place...I believe older hondas had this...may be worth a shot.
I believe they basically were pushed to where they have good tension and a bolt is tightened to hold them in the track they slide on and hold that tension (somebody step in if im wrong...because im not 100% positive here)

But I think the ultimate solution is better belt wrap on your alt's pulley...an idler pulley or even 2 of them should up the grip on that pulley quite a bit...almost to the point it couldnt slip....just need to find a metal-working guru that makes brackets n such to get it done for ya

i dont think the idler idea will work, the tensioner will still move.

 

[MasterOfAllBass 10+ year member]

i also used some belt condisoner spray thats like very sticky and helps belt slipage. the belt is very sticky but dose not seem to help cuz the tensioner is moving crazzy

 

[Pioneer~Saturn 5,000+ posts]

Yea, I'd take a look on your local craigslist for custom car guys etc. or make a post there looking for someone to get it done for you...someone should be able to get it done for you in your area....if not, drive here and the guy who's done all my work will do it for the cheapz //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

And that spray makes the engine bay messy //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/frown.gif.a3531fa0534503350665a1e957861287.gif...flings around in places and dirt then collects on the wet areas from it //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/crap.gif.7f4dd41e3e9b23fbd170a1ee6f65cecc.gif....me no likey dirty engine bays

 

[MasterOfAllBass 10+ year member]

Dayton, OH is way to far for me lol

 

[Pioneer~Saturn 5,000+ posts]

Lol, he's a bit north of me..about a 40 min drive

 

[MasterOfAllBass 10+ year member]

Lol, he's a bit north of me..about a 40 min drive

still way to far, like 1k miles

 

[Pioneer~Saturn 5,000+ posts]

Can't put a price on 'baller' though //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/cool.gif.3bcaf8f141236c00f8044d07150e34f7.gif

 

[MasterOfAllBass 10+ year member]

ha! well anyways is there a place where i can get oem tensioners?

 

[01 S 10 10+ year member]

not sure if this would help, but maybe a 1/2" or so LONGER belt to allow the tensioner to tighten up more, but im not sure if it will still hop around once you start the car. i mean, mine moves/hops around, but it still holds everything tight and i dont have any problems. im not recommending a longer belt, ive never seen it done, but from reading all the responses, i havent heard this concept mentioned. again not sure if it will work, but might....