Do Tensioner with Belt?

[cp3]

The G6 is just over 200k km and on the original belt. Recently started whining from under the hood. My first thought was the alternator bearings but after a closer look today, one of the idler pulleys is a bit wobbly and I'm thinking that may be the culprit. So I'm thinking about ordering the belt and idler and see if that is the problem before I get the alternator, especially if that isn't the bearing making the noise.

My question is, is it standard practice to replace the tensioner with the belt? I seem to remember reading that somewhere. At any rate it seems to be bouncing around more than it should so I think I'll be throwing a new one at it any way, just curious.

Think I'll be getting belt, tensioner and idler by Dayco from RockAuto.

 

[ahoier]

May as well do it all at once since you'll have it all apart down there

I don't see why not.

 

[larryn]

Save some money and knock out old bearing and replace it.I think it is a 6203 10$ approx.Very easy to do,15 minutes start to finish.Just remove the pulley not the whole tensioner.

 

[HTSS_TR]

Change the Tensioner at the time you change fan-belt is a good idea.

 

[MI_Roger]

At 200K km (120K+ miles) you are due for belt, idler pulleys, and new tensioner. The spring internal to the tensioner will fail with age so replace the entire tensioner, don't be tempted to do a tensioner pulley only.

 

[brophog]

Any time I'm doing something like that, I nail all of the corresponding things that may have some wear while I have something open. Generally speaking, the labor time on most maintenance is the bigger issue vs part cost.

 

[cp3]

Originally Posted By: MI_Roger
At 200K km (120K+ miles) you are due for belt, idler pulleys, and new tensioner. The spring internal to the tensioner will fail with age so replace the entire tensioner, don't be tempted to do a tensioner pulley only.


Just to clarify, I think the tensioner is getting weak, the bearing I think is an idler pulley. Might not be a bad idea to order a belt and tensioner and bearings for all the idlers though.

And ya, I don't think I can complain about the mileage on the belt!

 

[xxch4osxx]

Might as well do it all while you have it apart.

 

[bdcardinal]

You have the time invested to take it all apart, you might as well replace any wear components while you are in there.

When I work on my own or someone elses car I factor in an arbitrary labor rate when I do it. On my mom's 00 Grand Marquis I recently replaced the intake manifold because hers was 11 years old and I didnt want to get a call from hear when it finally exploded. When i was in there I replaced the hot water pipe that runs under the intake, the heater hoses, t-stat and the coils and plugs. It was only an extra half hour or so of work to do all of that.

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: HTSS_TR
Change the Tensioner at the time you change fan-belt is a good idea.


At that mileage I don't think it is a bad idea. Particularly if other parts are showing age.

 

[229]

If you use Gates Rubber Co (OEM) parts you will be ahead of the game.

 

[cp3]

Originally Posted By: 229
If you use Gates Rubber Co (OEM) parts you will be ahead of the game.


Ya, I read a post by Trav in another thread about Dayco tensioner pulleys going bad prematurely in cold weather, that won't work for me....

I don't know that I'll do all if the idlers, there's 2 or 3 down there. What I was getting at was more is that a SOP, like oil &filter.....belt & tensioner?

Thanx for all the input guys

 

[doitmyself]

cp3,

Here's some good tech. info from the Gates company:
http://www.gates.com/brochure.cfm?brochure=4956&location_id=544

I had my serpentine belt replaced last fall with my timing belt change. A few weeks ago the belt started chirping when the AC was turned on and the tensioner was "bouncing" like in the video on my link above: http://www.gates.com/tensioner/tensioner_video.html

I ended up replacing the tensioner and another belt. So, I agree with Gates' recommendation to replace them together at that high a mileage.

I am impressed with the Gates belt and tensioner quality. They are sold by NAPA, Car Quest, O'Reilly's AND Rock Auto.

 

[cp3]

Yep, that's what it's doing, bouncing just like in the video, maybe a bit worse.

I may put it back together just with a new idler out of curiosity. But I'm still going to do the belt and tensioner.

 

[mechtech2]

Pulleys come new with more looseness than you'd think. this is to keep things lined up when running.
But at 200k? Of course change the pulleys.