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mohaughn · 04-07-2009, 04:53 PM

OK.. So I just got done changing the oil filter housing gasket and now the tensioner on my belt is acting up. The little rubber boot that seals the tensioner came off from one of the sides, and the spring popped out of the little housing.

It is possible to put the tensioner back together and get the belt onto the car and the car runs fine, but it is normal for the tensioner to uncompress like that? Putting the belt on it now is a two person job because the spring pushes out to the side when there is no tension on it. So one person has to put a socket on the pulley and move the swing arm to the side to compress the spring as somebody else pushes the tensioner back into alignment. You can then move the swing arm normally, and put the belt back on.

I've read around that these things hardly ever fail, but is this what they do when they fail? It seems like there should be something that holds the spring in the tensioner and keeps it compressed properly when the belt is off of the car.

04-07-2009, 04:53 PM	#1
mohaughn Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 2,525 iTrader: (1) Photo Gallery	Problems with idler pulley OK.. So I just got done changing the oil filter housing gasket and now the tensioner on my belt is acting up. The little rubber boot that seals the tensioner came off from one of the sides, and the spring popped out of the little housing. It is possible to put the tensioner back together and get the belt onto the car and the car runs fine, but it is normal for the tensioner to uncompress like that? Putting the belt on it now is a two person job because the spring pushes out to the side when there is no tension on it. So one person has to put a socket on the pulley and move the swing arm to the side to compress the spring as somebody else pushes the tensioner back into alignment. You can then move the swing arm normally, and put the belt back on. I've read around that these things hardly ever fail, but is this what they do when they fail? It seems like there should be something that holds the spring in the tensioner and keeps it compressed properly when the belt is off of the car.