2006 Honda Element Tensioner Pulley and Serpentine Belt

[@Perly53]

I have been doing auto mechanic work for over 50 years. I worked for my Dad since I was 13 through college, and since then, I try to do as much repair as I can. I would like to say thank you for this excellent video. Not only do you share common things that may go wrong, but I'm also very impressed by your positive attitude and calm demeanor. I need to do this repair on my son's Honda and again, I thank you very much for this helpful video. Best wishes!

[@aarpel1]

I dropped the pulley nut in the middle of the job and had no idea where it came from. Saw your video while I was in the middle of the job and it saved me some time. Thanks again!

[@APDTY]

awesome, glad it helped and thanks so much for watching and commenting.

[@hanksgavin]

Good video, glad you showed the mistakes. Now come to my work and do all the cars in the parking lot. When people tear out of there it sounds like a fleet of banshees.

[@NickNardone]

This was an incredible video. This helped me immensely but working on my element. Thank you so much for taking the time and effort to do this

[@APDTY]

awesome, thank you for watching and commenting, it makes us keep doing these.

[@joemontano7536]

Very thorough . Includes common mistakes .

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

Thanks so much finally a video that's someone well spoken and knows what he's doing

[@tymarvin9557]

you probably dont give a damn but does anybody know a method to get back into an Instagram account?? I stupidly lost my password. I would love any tips you can give me!

[@paytonernest9446]

@Ty Marvin instablaster :)

[@RoldanRR00]

My brother and I just did the same thing. We were replacing the tensioner pulley and the nut fell off the back side when putting the new one on. Luckily, it fell all the way down and we put it back in with some duct tape on the back side so we could get it threaded without it falling out again. Great video. I wish I came across it sooner, but I was looking for a CR-V. This Element has the same 2.4L engine.

[@mrau92me]

I'm an engineer, and for the love of all that is good, why did Honda engineers not make that pulley nut a captive nut?! A couple of tack welds on that nut and that's a 5-minute replacement .job

[@toilet1880]

If they do that than you won't be buying there nut, it is a stupid design and I just lost mine and can't find it anywhere, now headed to HD to get one to replace

[@davidrobinson925]

Just got a new one and looks like they got rid of that idea...new one is a thread all the way through so no nut on the back

[@muraterdem7184]

@@toilet1880, can you let me know what size that nut is? I dropped mine as well and cannot find it.

[@Dweeno]

Hello, I was wondering if you could help me find a tensioner for my Honda Stream. I noticed that you have a similar setup with a K20A engine, and I was hoping to find the exact same tensioner online. Additionally, I am also looking for an alternator because my car has over 300000 miles on it, and I think the pulley on the alternator might be damaged, which causes the belt to run off the pulley. I am not entirely sure if this is the problem, but I would really appreciate it if you could help me locate these parts for my Honda. Thank you.

[@keithrosa8016]

this video would have been even more helpful if you had demonstrated the noise the customer was complaining of before you made the repair.

[@APDTY]

yeah sorry about that, we didn't think of it, also we have recorded tons of noises before and the sound does seem much different in person, anyway we will remember that in future videos.

[@rgraz4929]

Same with the CRV? My tensioner pulley is making a half-second burp or growl sound at very low speeds when rolling to a stop or rolling out of a stop, and when at a traffic light and turn the headlights on. I assume it's the tensioner. I guess some pulleys can make noises when going slow but go away when going a little faster. I just replaced the belt and the alternator pully is fine, but the tensioner pulley is making some noise. How do I torque the pully bolt to 41 ft/lb if a torque wrench won't fit? Take the whole assembly out or just estimate?

[@easyfund]

Great video thanks so much. My experience with the 2 lower alternator bolts was a bit harder than you made it look - I like the 3x speed but for tricky steps like getting the belt back on - perhaps you could pause and give more tips. Do you have any good mechanic prayers you want to share that work for you consistently? Peace bro - also please make it easier for us to buy parts through your affiliate link or setup your own shop.

[@APDTY]

thanks for watching and commenting we appreciate it, we are constantly trying to improve our video and the links to our products that we sell,

[@jjspatel]

How much torque you have applied to new tensioner bearing bolt @ 13.36 sec? or Hand tight is enough?

[@brucewilliams2106]

That's the wrong belt. It should have longitudinal grooves that match the pulley grooves. That has tank treads.

[@sharksg1401]

thanks for the simple and best way to replace.

[@kevindwyer6618]

Tnx for the video what a great job showing this...I have a 04 element 198k miles and will be tackling this repair very soon...tnx again

[@APDTY]

awesome thanks for watching and commenting.

[@RigoStar1931]

Great video even with the hiccups.

[@gotredeemed]

I was using a breaker bar and it slipped, but the ratchet worked superb! Dude, you are the Dude-ist!

[@jcskua]

Thanks for the video. Using this info, I was able to replace the pulley. Knowing the nut could fall out the back was crucial and allowed me to keep a finger on it when threading the bolt in. I owe you half an hour of my life saved. Belt install was not easy, but did not have to pull the motor mount or fender skirt as another video suggests.

[@dexsj77]

Great video, some others suggested taking off the motor mount. Great job showing how to take the pulley off without losing the nut, and get to The tensioner bolt.

[@APDTY]

Thanks for watching and thanks for the comment.

[@williammarra8903]

Very well done - thank you!

[@zaphodbeeblebrox6768]

Great video! And I thank you for showing the dropped nut, too. It kept me from dropping mine! My screeching noise only cropped up after installing a new power steering pump for some reason. And to anyone reading this far, my bearing seemed pretty tight and the pulley would spin very easily and made nearly no noise - but was still bad.

[@American97percent]

Put a laik from whom the nut fell and was not found

[@horikatanifuji5038]

My tensioner nut is completely stripped, it's impossible to get the serpentine belt off, but I heard that my loosening the pulley it can also come off, do you know about this by any chance?

[@horikatanifuji5038]

I ended up cutting the serpentine belt and replacing the nut with a completely new tensioner, and had to install a new serpentine belt.

[@joejoe188]

Looks like there is plenty of room for a 14mm socket to pull on to releive tension on the belt

[@fluffycrepe4057]

Good god your fingernails!

[@iMotoTactic00L]

You should show us where is the mark tensioner after you installed everything!..

[@chuenengyang3685]

Thanks for posting your instruction on KZbin. It helped me to fix mine.

[@APDTY]

awesome thanks for watching and commenting, we are always pleased when our video helps someone and it helps motivate us to keep doing these.

[@delltek102]

Will 2010 Honda CRV have same easy installation. I am surprised that with only 31k miles on it, tension pulley would need to be replaced. This is what my mechanic told me, does it have to replaced right away and is it safe to drive. Thank you.

[@APDTY]

+Rem X Age can potentially be just as much wear as mileage unfortunately, If any symptom exists and a shop inspected it and said it needs a tensioner, then it is important to replace before it fails and leaves you stranded on the road.

[@hairinyourteeth]

Thank you for including all your issues. Makes the rest of us feel normal. Question, I have seen in other videos that they had to take out the motor mount to get to belt tensioner out but you did it with only removing the power steering pump. Is this because you had the pully off?

[@fixitdude9748]

Im surprised you got the new belt back on that way, i learned the hard way alternator pulley goes last.

[@APDTY]

Cee Los ok thanks we will try and remember to check that out for the next one, we of course always try the easiest

[@peterealey4004]

I do all my work on my vehicles I own, thanks to you I can get good quality information on the topic of repairs and I appreciate your help 😊

[@drizzlecan1199]

Bro water pump is expert level of bolt removal tell phat chick to take to shop but if she’s worth it brace yourself for a mother load of physco episodes music 🎵 helps ozzy

[@aoweiyin8899]

Nice Video. I really need your advice on my 2007 Honda Odyssey . 2 months ago, I was at a stop sign, suddenly the van was making the high pitch sound then smoked and the steering wheel was heavy and "BOOM" the balancer and a pulley fell off the engine hood. Van was towed to Firestone, They replaced the parts and the belt. Then 1 month ago, I was sitting in the van while it was on parking gear. " Boom" the pulley which just replaced from Firestone, fell off from the engine again, I noticed the bearing was broke in half. Van was towed again. They replaced the parts of the warranty. Now the AC kicks in and off...the the freon is good...I don't know what is going on here. I m scared to drive it when my kids are with me. The van is 92000 thousand miles now. What's going to happen if the parts fall off the engine while I m driving 60 miles an hour? Should I sell this van? Is it worthy to keep driving? I really appreciate your advice. Thank you so much

[@yournameistaken]

Great video, nobody is showing the mark on the tensioner, and also how to take the hidden bolt how you did it.

[@APDTY]

thanks for watching and thanks for the comment :)

[@corblom11]

Great video very helpful. I always have a mind to improve my vehicles. Not sure why a person doesn't take a few minutes and heat up the hot glue gun to put that nut secure in there for the next time or next person. Something the manufacturer should have done in the first place. Just a thought

[@psdaengr911]

The high speed video zoomed past it. Drop the playback speed to 0,25 to see that the actual "trick" is to get the belt onto the power steering pump first. Then use the wrenches to move the tensioner and finally slide the smooth back of the ribbed belt over onto the nice smooth small diameter tensioner which has no side flanges :-D .

[@goodnamesareallgone1]

Thank you, this helped. I was so worried about that caged nut falling out and getting lost in the engine area somewhere, I used duct tape behind it just-in-case and pulled it off once I had that bolt threaded in a bit.

[@louylongface9926]

Yeah that back bolt is a real %$%^^$@^&*ker! I'm sure the car Gods were ROTFL.

[@aarpel1]

Thanks...I was to dumb to figure out the center bolt on the tensioner.

[@APDTY]

thanks for watching and commenting, we appreciate it!

[@shuvadey4294]

Excellent video. Come across after many months. From what I have read or seen so far, taking the belt is pretty straight forward...getting it back on...not so easy. I will be doing this on my Honda CRV and that's the part that worries me most. Thanks for the video!! From the UK.

[@jeffchapman8965]

Thanks for the video very helpful.....keeep up the good wrench turning

[@APDTY]

thanks for the comment

[@dottorb7054]

YES! 8:15 - that's what fell and where it goes. THANK YOU!

[@APDTY]

yeah always trying to minimize or prevent dropping little nuts and bolts, but we all drop them, lol

[@petenation3794]

I’m guessing the reason you speed up the video during the belt removal/install is so we can’t here all the cursing!🥴

[@Jsts3d]

really it little bit long clip but very useful video , I would be4 ended video, test pulley with shifting gear to R & D with hand brake tighten Thanks Alot

[@JohnBaker3000]

Thank you!

[@MugenASMSi]

My tensioner arrow indicator is on the small bar when the car is off & on, so does that mean my tensioner is loose ? it doesn't seem to move when the car is idling though.

[@deseremere]

The best thing you show is that by removing the pulley you are getting access to the 3rd bolt which is almost impossible to get to otherwise without removing the motor mount.

[@goblue122177]

faster just cut bad belt in half and pull out

[@peterh5675]

Don't forget it's under tension, might be dangerous if it snaps and hits you in the face.

[@APDTY]

yeah except when the parts shop gives you the wrong belt or you order the wrong belt and then you have no vehicle to go swap it out, In a shop we would pull the car back into the parking lot and work on another vehicle until the correct belt showed up, been there done that, not going to do it again.

[@siclmn]

People who do this for a living do it in 10 min. You don't remove any parts. There is no way in Hell that it costs over $200 in labor. I only have 110 thousand miles on mine and it still looks new. No cracks in belt yet.

[@APDTY]

Thanks for watching, Labor times are published for all professional techs so they both can make money and also not gouge customers, the proper labor time to pay for this job is 1.3 hours, including verifying the alternator and battery were not damaged from long term problems with a tensioner.

[@Corbinworks]

Dealer wanted $930 with parts for this repair... lol

[@MrHurricaneFloyd]

$60 DIY from Advance Auto with coupn code, OEM supplier lifetime warranty part to boot.

[@wonyeonkim4490]

Paul Corb

[@APDTY]

wowsa, that is high, I hope they had more parts being replaced.

[@lekstuntkite]

Good jop Thank you

[@APDTY]

thanks for watching and the comment, we appreciate it.

[@Mariachizacoalco]

How much does a job like this cost

[@musicmanray1]

Love my element! Subscribed! TY!

[@jimbola77]

very good job! I have a 2006 Honda ridgeline truck is this the same procedure? thank you for sharing!!!

[@richfranzman1237]

Great video My Girl friend's element almost 300 k miles on it just purchased with salvage title no maint, records or paperwork.....squelling like crazy all speeds A/c on or off had same back side belt wear and pulley needs replacing as well had her pick up under my wholesale $41 belt and $90 for the tensioner and pulley assembly, Honda OEM. Quoted her $150 for the labor and if it needed a water pump I told her that it would be the same cost just buy the OEM water pump. She balked at the $150 Labor and she new how much the dealer costs. 43 years auto mechanic. No salvaging this girls decision as I was just doing her a favor and she elected to take it out of the area to San Diego, she should have kept going and just paid $10 in Mexico, your thoughts???

[@paulwatsonc5149]

I've watched another video,who recommended a tie wrap to link the new and old belt and pull out from the bottom,I did this and it worked very well,cut off tie wrap when new one is at the bottom of the thin gap.

[@jazzbassmc8043]

Very helpfull! Thank you!

[@APDTY]

Glad you liked iT and thanks for the comment!

[@1sttobylopez]

How long should this process take? my mechanic took charge me for 2 hours I think it should have taken less than one.

[@APDTY]

Labor time guides are available to all shops, especially now that they are online. The labor guide for this exact model (2006 Honda Element 2.4L) is .7 hours for replacement of the tensioner and belt, another .6 for initial inspection and testing (the battery and alternator need to be tested as the belt runs the alternator and the alternator might not charge properly with a bad tensioner). So the total book time that you should be charged is 1.3 hours, maybe 1.6 hours to test before and after, unless anything else was done or diagnosed.

[@1sttobylopez]

Thank you that is very helpful I'm at a local shop and they charged me $180 for two hours, of which I think is now Fair considering the time you've given me.

[@grunherzjg-5443]

😁👍 Torque ?)

[@ricardoneza237]

great video thanks!!!

[@thetruthinyourface96]

Did you have to raise the engine at all

[@APDTY]

No, not for this one.

[@prestonbraddock7840]

Great but what size is the tensioner pulley bolt?

[@APDTY]

We use a belt tensioner tool that has all the common sizes, I dont remember the size but here is the tool we use for most all belts: amzn.to/2meL420

[@tomcregon4562]

14mm