How to Diagnose a Loose or Stuck Belt Tensioner on Your Car or Truck

[@1AAuto]

√ *Watch the Video* √ *Buy The Part at 1A Auto* 1aau.to/m/Visit-1AAuto √ *Do it Yourself* √ *Save Money*

[@AllfatherBlack]

man i swear youtube's only value anymore is helping me fix my car, but only thanks to you that value is high, brother. keep up the great work, i learned a ton, thank you

[@Mikedeck12]

Watched a ton of these videos and this is the first one that he worked on a vercle instead of a vehicle. I learned a lot!

[@stevewendling8480]

Just replaced my tensioner, 2 pulleys and drive belt today. 2002 Mustang GT with 125,920 miles. I bought the car used and belt looked fine but noticed squeling noise. Just replaced them all for about $89 in parts and my hour of time. Glad its done.

[@Kyle-ev4fk]

You guys need to bring this guy back he is fun to watch

[@knuckles_fails]

It's never been easier to work on my veerhicle! Thanks guy!

[@runstant1]

FIRST CLASS TUTORIAL, CLEAR AND INFORMATIVE, NO SCREAMING AND SHOUTING,THIS GUY KNOWS HIS STUFF !!

[@PureBlood42]

I started thinking I wasn't on KZbin. A video that actually gives straightforward, useful, and clear diagnosis advice. Imagine that, I found such a video on KZbin. I will immediately stop chuckling at the term for a car being pronounced as, "vericle." Lol. Just some banter, friend, you're awesome!

[@bill2953]

To better isolate the source of a squeak or other noise from the belt area, start the engine, squirt a spray of water on the belt. If the noise stops the problem is the belt. If the noise persists, it's either a pully or the water pump.

[@BillyJohnson-jk6bo]

Yeah you can just take some wd40 and start going pulley to pulley

[@1wadesdad]

Really nice presentation! I could see the value for a consumer to have this knowledge even if they don't do their own installation.

[@seancollins6424]

I need to do this on my veerhicle, right meow...

[@OTT-JV]

😂

[@cavemanhippie8299]

This just verified I wasn't too many dabs in before watching this.

[@BandasPalette]

😁😁😁

[@breydonbentley_28]

I can’t stop hearing veerhicle now

[@matthewconroy3994]

Lol

[@smokeymagpot5569]

amy time u change the tensioner you should consider changing the belt as well to keep the tightness it needs to last. if u put a new belt first, then a tensioner later, then your new belt will start to loosen up in strength unfortunately so everyone keep that in mind when ur changing ur components. Excellent vid by the way bro!!

[@1AAuto]

+Richard Mcaffee Thanks for the feedback!

[@TheGrimmy]

he does mention it in the video... but yes! For those who didn't get that far in it's good to know!

[@BillSW]

and the idler too

[@GS-st9ns]

I went to get my oil changed today and the mechanic showed me an exaggerated picture of my tensioner belt. What Is the cost of replacing the tensioner belt on a 2007 Honda Accord? I forgot how much I like you when I auto videos. Thank you

[@MirelesMinistries]

What if you can pull the wheel outward? Is that a bad sign? A mechanic showed me that and said it was a sign that the tensioner is bad; however, I have been searching on KZbin, and none of these videos show anything about that being a bad sign. The reason I ask, too, is because I took the car in for a wheel alignment about 5 days ago, and I'm now in over $400 in repairs he keeps finding. The car is rarely driven on the highway, and it gets less than 10K miles per year, but it is a 2007 with about 160K miles on it. Great video and channel. Thank you for doing these!

[@celticqueen1970]

Ty so much!! This is so professional n clear and just wow I'm impressed!! I am doing mine screw putting up with these rude mechanics treating me like crap n charging an arm and a 🦵

[@Wakeupandsniffthecoffee]

Just pulled one off my 2001 pt cruiser. I thought maybe the pulley was bad, but since that bolt hits the frame and can't come out, I pulled the tensioner. I did order both the pulley and tensioner with the belts. When I got the tensioner off, I thought it was good and I would just save it as a spare. After looking closely, the body housing in the tensioner had about a two inch crack in it. I'm glad I pulled it and didn't think it was just the pulley. I also found a broken tensioner in my 2006 Kia Sportage too. Probably doesn't hurt to just put a new one anyways.

[@MajorBunghole]

Very helpful. Doing a country job in a mercedes sprinter with a 316 cdi engine today. First I noticed the battery light main and auxiliary battery weren't charging, then the water temp light, followed by the water level light came on and finally I lost the power steering, I also had no aircon for about an hour and a half before all this started happening. Apart from the aircon not working from early on, the rest of the issues started about 20klm's from the hospital we were taking our patient to. We did make it to the hospital and after shooing the patient off I popped the bonnet and found that both the serpentine belt and the 'V' fan belt were basically gone, which would account for all the issues. The strange thing is that this is the third time in a month that crews have been unable to drive home from this town in the past 4 weeks and it's all been due to belt failure. As this is the first time it's happened to me personally, I can't say if both belts have broken the other two times, but what i can say is that we drove it from our base in Melbourne this morning straight after it had supposedly been 'fixed' by the mechanic. By fixed I mean the fan belt and possibly the serpentine belt had been replaced this morning before we before we drove it. These belts shouldn't be breaking so often. What could be causing this? I'm thinking a ceased pully ac, and I'm wondering if a worm tensioner could cause this. And could one belt breaking cause the other belt to fail by fouling or knicking it? Thanks for any advice.

[@runed0s86]

Sounds like one of the pulleys is seized... The idler pulley and tensioner pulley should spin freely! My tensioner pulley doesn't spin freely. Also check to see where your radiator exhaust fumes are going. Apparently radiator fluid can destroy belts.

[@macsworld570]

Honestly the video was veery good if you needed well explained imfeermation on your veericles belt tentioner

[@stillfrosty]

This is the best comment ever!

[@mikefortner4731]

🤣

[@geoffreyneilson2252]

Great video and presentation. Clear, calm and no hype. Just snapped ours, so great to know how to replace the drive belt when remote.

[@1AAuto]

+@geoffreyneilson2252 Thanks for checking us out. Shop for high quality auto parts on 1AAuto.com: 1aau.to/m/Shop-1AAuto-c

[@shortydancer]

That throttle body is soooo clean. Is it new?

[@mr.nobody4900]

Excellent video. Is my practice to replace both Belt Tensioner along with the Serpentine belt. Sometimes is just good to have good peace of mind. You can't put a price on such a thing.

[@1AAuto]

+Mario S. Thanks for checking us out! 1AAuto.com

[@esgarza1486]

@@1AAuto what if the belt tensioner is shaking is that a bad sign

[@brentmyran1410]

@@esgarza1486 that's a bad sign gonna brake soon

[@shuriKen469]

thoroughly explained and well edited! cheers mate!!

[@throttletwstn9731]

Cant even pay attention to the video because of the way he says vehicle. Like wth where is he getting the r in vehicle

[@StormLaker]

Best practice would be to just replace the idler and the tensioner when you replace your belt- then check your other pulleys for excessive play and replace what needs replaced so you don't wind up stranded along the road in the future.

[@chrismcdonald6481]

Yep. Doing both belts and tensioner tomorrow morning. Makes sense to me to do belts as well

[@billalexander8011]

This is a great video. Practical advice for common issues.

[@william8654]

Thanks, you are very easy to follow!! I had a squealing noise coming from my belt area and it was a loose tensioner.

[@twigsfloat2773]

That was such an excellent explanation. Good job, dude!

[@sjn7220]

Hydraulic tensioners can be extremely hard to retract and you have to do it slowly. Found that out on my old Camry.

[@CatylisticRevo62]

Did it seem to only go so far and then jam up?

[@JesusRodriguez-xr4kn]

Thanks for sharing your knowledge it is good for all of US who some times do not the ability to afort the prices of calcified mecanic ;;; THANKS A MILLION❤❤😂

[@manuelramos4608]

I wanna be a good mechanic like this man when I’m older

[@tayaria7280]

Always have the best informative videos

[@jbmar-jx7uv]

great video! how do you know its not the idler pulleys??? cheaper than tensioner pulley so y not troubleshoot that?

[@JimmyRedondo-ui9nq]

Your guys videos have helped me Soo much . Thank you

[@dugefrsh5154]

you sir are doing God's work..thank you!

[@jamietingey7498]

Am I the only one who laughs when you hear a vehicle starting up with the screeching of a belt?

[@firebreath1936]

I just replaced my serpentine belt again. But it has practically shredded both of them. The second one was torn right down the middle. And I saw a line in the back of the belt going down the middle as well

[@stewarthaddon3219]

Great little video, many thanks.

[@telo990]

He real good at explaining

[@1AAuto]

+Telo Got it Thanks for the feedback!

[@mymusic3354]

Great video with excellent information, videos like this are awesome!

[@chadcovey1626]

I'm really starting to have a love & hate relationship with this guy

[@WayneTDowdy3]

Thanks for providing quality content.

[@keithdavis3411]

Going to replace tensioner on N maxima 98. Was able to work in some antisieze aound bearing seal until part comes. Seemed to help a lot

[@keithdavis3411]

Seemed to help a lot. Used a large screwdrivet and carefully pryed on pully area. Had about 1/32 of a gap to work in antisieze

[@abdulrhmanalomireen4626]

Thanks Elaine for sharing continue & we'll support You ! 👌🏻

[@1AAuto]

+Abdulrhman Alomireen Thanks for checking us out! 1AAuto.com

[@NeutronX101]

Learned more in 6 minutes than in automotive school

[@chefstir6]

I've heard people add a 'r' to the word wash but this is a first

[@DashCamSerbia]

Len, you are the best. I can call you Lenny, right? (Kidding!)

[@1AAuto]

Absolutely! 1st name basis with all of our customers.

[@datgamerboy123]

That's actually awesome lol

[@kwdoug]

Thank you guys

[@pinkinwarri304]

Thanks for the lessons

[@Xshipgogogo]

thanks for teaching

[@mahmoudalshawi2010]

Very useful information....thank you...

[@1AAuto]

+Mahmoud Al Shawi Thanks for checking us out! 1AAuto.com

[@Mr105246]

Nice video straight to the point

[@nrako]

Thanks so much that was so complete and easy to understand thanks!

[@DJbickythemaster]

will be fixing my impala totally. its got a major squeal to it

[@johnritchie4801]

good clear explanations

[@zabihataie5719]

Hay man Thanks a lot that was super helpful

[@musiclibrary3635]

Thank you so much for the great information, but What if the belt is shaking just in a certain rpm not all the time

[@daveluxton8317]

nice vid. so how do you adjust the tension on a spring loaded tensioner? Or, is it even possible?

[@joeblow4888]

You don't.

[@trigg3306]

Thanks for the video !! Mine is making a tapping noise after running a while. I only replaced the idler pulley not the whole tensioner. But the noise continues, Any suggestions?

[@coltboy1987]

Nice man Top quality video very informative!

[@1AAuto]

+coltboy1987 Thanks for checking us out! 1aau.to/m/Shop-1AAuto-c

[@keifuchan7265]

I get a slight rattle and what sounds like belt chirp only at low rpms. I don't get any sounds when in neutral and revving the engine. Is this most likely the tensioner or belt? Why does the sound only happen at low rpms??

[@maestro6492]

Did you ever figure out what it was? That's what I got going on myself and just got a check engine!

[@Pmason718]

The dealership mentio my drive and AC belts are worn. I've not having any issues at the moment. Should I replace the tensioner with the belts? The site I'm buying the belts from state it's good practice to replace both at the same time. At the end of the video you answered my question. Silly me.

[@1AAuto]

+@Pmason718 Thanks for checking us out! 1aau.to/m/Shop-1AAuto-c

[@linlyn4670]

hi, you made a very good video. thank you. my driver belt is making noise especially when car is on idle not squeal noise., the belt is shaky, tensioner pulley is moving (forward and backward), i wonder if the tensioner too weak, i just replaced with newtensioner and belt. your reply is very appreciated

[@iqbalbawa8875]

Hi thank you so much for really educational video. I have golf mk4 1.4 petrol. I have identified through your videos that my tensioner is seized and it is not doing what it is supposed to do. My question is how do i remove it ? I have looked high and low and cannot find a bolt that holds it in place. Any help and advise will be greatly appreciated.

[@kellyfarrer3325]

My veerhicle needs new pulleys and a belt. Its pretty scary to attempt it on your own, but Mitsubishi charges so much it is honestly so unreasonable. I just want my veerhicle to run as long as possible.

[@davidfriesen9625]

yep, the "veeR-icle" was distracting. If he can't pronounce it, can I trust him to coach me on fixing it?

[@mattboyer3095]

excellent video! really concise.

[@1AAuto]

+matt boyer Thanks for the feedback!

[@LostNbounded]

Wow amazing video. Thanks so much

[@draperlawson796]

Thanks helped me

[@ExtremeRecluse]

Sometimes the corrosion is so bad that the locking pin is welded to the engine block. In that case the part will not come off. in that case, try to just replace the pulley. I tried taking my tensioner off. The locking pin snapped off in the block.

[@MrKredinger]

Great video, very helpful

[@leroywordlaw7077]

Good INFO!!

[@marcusland1119]

My AC belt tensioner flexes so much that it hits the stop repeatedly making a chattering noise. I've replaced the tensioner and threw on a new belt. Any idea what could be causing this? The AC blows cold but the loud chattering is annoying. 2002 Chevy Tahoe.

[@BEAZY_5150]

Did you ever figure it out a year later? I've had 2 new tensioners, both are doing the same. I've just been living with it for 6 months and it sucks!

[@g.backwoods2216]

Thank you sir

[@leroycharles9751]

If you are replacing the tensioner I would replace the idler too, or at least spin it to see if the bearing is dried up.

[@sweat319]

Thanks you for your information

[@1AAuto]

+sweat319 Thanks for checking us out! 1AAuto.com

[@smartman123]

very nice simple video

[@eastendguy485]

Great video Len!

[@1AAuto]

+eastendguy48 Thanks for the feedback!

[@aciddiver1978]

Very good informational video👍

[@1AAuto]

+ronny kvalheim Thanks for checking us out! 1aau.to/m/Shop-1AAuto-c

[@swampwiz]

Wow, I used to have a yellow VW New Beetle like what was zipping across the chyron. (I'm viewing this video because of a strange sound in my VW Jetta Wagon, but it wasn't the super high squeak that was shown here.)

[@pancholin1950]

Very professional! Thanks for the info.!

[@casahall]

Thanks!

[@robd5326]

life hack. When listening with a long screwdriver cut a gallon jug like a rain X jug in half and stick the mouth over screwdriver handle. It amplifies the noise.Much safer too

[@galenlewis59]

Good educational video. Thank you. Vehicle is not veericle. Just kiddin 😀

[@OMG-sh9st]

Veerhicle. I've never heard that pronunciation before. Must be Canadian? Thanks for the vid

[@jenniferswanson9216]

The bolt to hold my tensioner in place is gone. What size bolt would fit on a 2003 GMC envoy serpentine belt tensioner? Please? I did appreciate this video. I wouldn't have known exactly what I needed. What I really need to know is what size bolt holds it on, and what could cause it to be missing.

[@miketewhare1875]

Thanks mate really helpful

[@joedarden2276]

Well Done

[@yocz2007]

Great tuto pal,thanks!

[@1AAuto]

+Patrick Meus Thanks for checking us out! 1aau.to/m/Shop-1AAuto-c

[@stephenlong5694]

Informative

[@MikzX]

super helpful video thanks !

[@mwngw]

My Rav4 had its tensioner losing tension intermittently. Alternator output would intermittently drop to battery voltage.

[@samgrant1747]

Great video 📹

[@BrianTheTrader]

Stretch belts have to be replaced anytime they are taken off the vehicle.

[@RonaldNunes-n6m]

I put a new water pump in my Dodge the belt came off so I had to put it back on everything went well except the belt was too loose.

[@ivonnelucero420]

Hi! So what’s next if you replaced the automatic tensioner and belt and it’s still too loose?

[@ioanbugheanu6836]

Very informative, clear and concise, much appreciated. Also, "vericles", lol

[@1AAuto]

+@ioanbugheanu6836 Thanks for checking us out. Shop for high quality auto parts on 1AAuto.com: 1aau.to/m/Shop-1AAuto-c

[@invisableobserver]

How to repair it if belt is pulling too tight? it was not mentioned in the video. does it need a slightly longer belt? or a smaller pulley?

[@jasondillon2567]

Great videos! Although everytime I hear "veericle" I flinch a little.

[@charliemedlock322]

If people are watching this video, in sure they know what a tensioner is.

[@RipeBanaynay]

Well, I don't know what it is... I came here to find out.

[@guidomeglio4800]

Top!! tnks 4 a video 👍