How do you loosen a belt tensioner?
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 happens if serpentine belt is to tight?
If the belt is too tight, it will cause excessive side loads and overheat the bearings. This in turn causes noise, decreased output and even the seizing of the alternator. If the belt is too loose, it will cause the alternator to slip.
Is drive belt too tight?
A Measure of Tightness or Tension The required measure of tension in the serpentine belt is that it should not deflect more than ½ inch when twisted either way from the middle. If twisted more, the belt is loose, and if twisted less, the belt is too tight. Either of the positions does not work for the vehicle.
How do you know if your belt is loose?
A loose drive belt will often be noisy, squeaking a bit, or emitting a high-pitched squeal. The most obvious sign of a loose drive belt, though, is in its appearance and tension. A loose belt, simply stated, looks and feels loose.
What type of belt Cannot have its tension adjusted?
There are a few different ways to adjust the drive belt or V-belt tension in a vehicle. The most popular used nowadays is a serpentine belt that connects to and activates every pulley in the engine. These serpentine belts require no tension adjustment as they incorporate an automatic belt tensioner.
What are some potential problems if belt tension is too loose?
Improper Tension A belt that’s too loose on a pulley will cause slippage, which leads to heat build up from friction. This heat will damage your rubber belts and cause the belts to crack and break. A belt that’s too tight can add stress to your bearings and cause your motor to over amp, leading to motor failure.
Why do V belts fail?
Missing cogs can cause belts to slip and fail, when it is discovered there are teeth missing, the belt should be changed immediately. The most common reasons your belt could be missing a cog are excessive heat, the pulleys are too small or misaligned. It can also be caused by improper or prolonged storage of belts.
How long do V belts last?
If your vehicle is equipped with v belts, they should be replaced within 3 years, or 40,000 miles. Beyond this point, car belt life will be dramatically reduced.
Why do V belts flip over?
The belts were reinforced by nylon cords down in the V, heavier than the rubber and the belt would flip over by centrifugal force at high RPM. So they made the belts with the cords in a flat band around the outside.
Why are V belts used?
V-belts are commonly used in industrial applications because of their relative low cost, ease of installation, and wide range of sizes (Fig. 2). The V-shape makes it easier to keep fast-moving belts in sheave grooves than it is to keep a flat belt on a pulley.
Is it hard to change a tensioner pulley?
In most vehicle applications, the pulley can be disconnected from the tensioner and then replaced. But it’s best to inspect the functionality of the tensioner as well, since the unit needs to be removed to replace the pulley. The level of difficulty widely varies per make and model.
Can I drive with a bad belt tensioner?
Driving with a bad belt tensioner is unsafe since the tensioner is meant to guarantee ample tension that powers accessories. Wear on the belt tensioner will eventually cause the belt to slip, generate loud noise, and also create an unsafe level of heat along the accessory pulleys.
How much does it cost to fix a belt tensioner?
The average cost for a drive belt tensioner replacement is between $211 and $239. Labor costs are between $73 and $93, while parts are priced between $138 and $146. Taxes and fees are not included in the estimate.
How long does it take to fix a tensioner?
What Is Tensioner Pulley Replacement? Replacing the pulley should only take an hour or two, and the parts will vary in cost from one type of car to the next.
What causes a belt tensioner to go bad?
Pulley Damage Any damage to the automatic tensioner pulley can cause damage to the belt tensioner due to the vibrations caused by the pulley. Physical damage to the pulley is an indication of extreme tension or physical interference.
How often should you replace belt tensioner?
It should be noted that the drive belt itself will most likely need replacing before the tensioner does. Drive belts typically last anywhere between 40,000 and 70,000 miles. There aren’t a lot of warning signs that a drive belt tensioner has hit the end of its lifespan, in fact there is really only one.