Belt tensioner failure on installation!

[Thermo1223]

As described, I don't know if it's the flu manufacturing or what but the second I went to install the belt....pop!

Manufactured 9/11/2021

Actually sending an email to Continental too. I have to go get a local part now from Napa that is a reasonable price so my employee can use his car again. He cannot wait again for a RockAuto to replace it.

2008 BMW X3

 

[frankbee3]

Well, at least you or your employee will end up with a spare tensioner at a later time? I have found Rock Auto to be pretty good handling returns, but the local store is the only way to remedy a stranded car quickly.

I like the idea of supporting the local parts house, but shopping for wiper blades or light bulbs at Rock auto has been an eye opener. It is fun to compare the pricing of headlight bulbs from Oreilly vs Rock. I ended up buying ten packs of bulbs for every position for four different cars in the family fleet at Rock.

 

[nicholas]

That metal looks very cheap.......

 

[oldcodger]

Looks to me like maybe dropped or mishandled.

 

[D60]

Well, at least you or your employee will end up with a spare tensioner at a later time? I have found Rock Auto to be pretty good handling returns, but the local store is the only way to remedy a stranded car quickly.

I like the idea of supporting the local parts house, but shopping for wiper blades or light bulbs at Rock auto has been an eye opener. It is fun to compare the pricing of headlight bulbs from Oreilly vs Rock. I ended up buying ten packs of bulbs for every position for four different cars in the family fleet at Rock.

I've been getting 10-packs of smaller (ie tail/brake/marker) from Amazon. Typically pennies on the dollar of the cards at auto parts stores. I will say -- I've found a dud or two but they're so inexpensive it doesn't matter. If they do work, longevity seems fine.

Anyway, looks like poor metallurgy in a casting. Was this made in China?

 

[D60]

Looks to me like maybe dropped or mishandled.

This is also possible. It was dropped by a warehouse worker or shipper and no one cared to give it a second thought. Maybe.

 

[paulo57509]

Casting flaw near the Torx socket hole would be my guess.

 

[Exhaustgases]

Typical junk materials that everything is made from now. Then ad making it too thin and weak too boot.

 

[KrisZ]

Just like those “beyond meat” bug burgers, this thing is “beyond junk”. Throwing it into the trash would be an offense to trash.

 

[Thermo1223]

I've been getting 10-packs of smaller (ie tail/brake/marker) from Amazon. Typically pennies on the dollar of the cards at auto parts stores. I will say -- I've found a dud or two but they're so inexpensive it doesn't matter. If they do work, longevity seems fine.

Anyway, looks like poor metallurgy in a casting. Was this made in China?

Contitech(Continental) part so I doubt it was made in Germany.

 

[Thermo1223]

Just like those “beyond meat” bug burgers, this thing is “beyond junk”. Throwing it into the trash would be an offense to trash.

It's all soy protein which isn't exactly great for you.

 

[nicholas]

It's all soy protein which isn't exactly great for you.

Neither is saturated fat...

 

[edyvw]

Manufacturer of tensioner? OEM is INA.

 

[Thermo1223]

Neither is saturated fat...

In moderation it is necessary.

 

[nicholas]

In moderation it is necessary.

I bet your heart will disagree......

 

[KrisZ]

I bet your heart will disagree......

Seeing tensioners like OP posted is the danger to my heart.

 

[edyvw]

Seeing tensioners like OP posted is the danger to my heart.

Especially in that engine! Unless it is OE or INA, it doesn’t belong there.

 

[Nukeman7]

That metal looks very cheap.......

Yep...I bet it was a Pepsi can 6 months ago!

 

[camrydriver111]

It's all soy protein which isn't exactly great for you.

If soy protein was bad for you the Chinese and Japanese would have a lot of health problems.

It's bad because it's ultra-processed, not because it's soy.

 

[Thermo1223]

Especially in that engine! Unless it is OE or INA, it doesn’t belong there.

Funny enough the replacement from Napa was INA.