Belt tensioner....

[DAS BOOT]

One fo the stupder designs of the 3800 series II.


My car had a newer alternator, but I still had voltage issues, I assumed the belt snce I could push the tensioner down by hand which is a o no.


I had to pull the tensioner, which of course has coolan passeges, and the coolant passages can bes substituted if need be.

[97RSSM90]

Re: Belt tensioner....

well, u can remove the tensioner from the heater passageway bracket. its held on by 2 bolts. it cost like 30-40 bucks at the parts store.

[WarShrike]

Re: Belt tensioner....

Voltage issues can also be contributed to bad grounds or corrosion on one of your main hot lines from the battery/alternator.

[ssms5411]

Re: Belt tensioner....

I remember when I did my tensioner was not fun.

[DAS BOOT]

Re: Belt tensioner....

All connections and lines look good. I doubt grounds are bad, car is a southern car and in decent shape. I could push the tensioner down by hand, and it only jumped around on rpm changes.

I mean its an easy job, but just stupid I am ****ing with the cooling system. And of course those ****ty elbos, which btw is hilarous, that they are 3.8L only specific, but its an "off the shelf" part at auto parts stores. Its such a ****ty part that gets replaced so often, parts store attendants got tired of having to pull it off a shelf to give to a customer so they just mounted them on a rack.


Some pics btw...

[enzia35]

Re: Belt tensioner....

I had fun a week or so with that.

[Blizzard242]

Re: Belt tensioner....

That's exactly how mine broke too.

[Blackbird02]

Re: Belt tensioner....

Sorry to resurrect an old post but I'm in the process of replacing this tensioner assembly.
Funny how things sometimes fall into place. A couple weeks ago I notice my coolant level always low. I searched and searched for the leak and found nothing. I silently wish the car would just break so I could find the leak. This morning my wish was granted.
For a few months I had been watching the serpentine belt dance on the edge of the tensioner. I keep saying to myself, I really should fix that but never did. Well this morning the belt blew off.
So tonight I pull the tensioner off and discover the elbow under the intake had been leaking. Not enough to hit the ground but enough for the coolant to always be a little low and out of sight.
So to the point of this long story, first of all, what a totally ****ed up design!! Second, those elbows and hoses really stay in without leaking by friction alone??