Part 2 Commodore Belt Tensioner Change VT VX VY 3.8LTR V6 Ecotec

[@amounifnd]

Well done !. Did this last about 12 years ago going the Intake Manifold Gasket and all because I never pushed that long pipe back in far enough I thought I was leaking from the LIM and the block. You can see from your video where the pipe goes and and there the manifold and block touch are in the same place. Had to do it all over for nothing. You learn the hard way. Mark the pipe with a marker where it goes into the thermostat housing and on the other end where hose goes so you know you pushed it back in far enough. Also use Vaseline or Rubber gasket sealant on those O rings so they seat and dont more when pushing back in. Hope to see more of your videos on the future.

[@jeremyhalliday7339]

Doing LIM gasket, thought finally made it, can't pull it off. Tensioner. Thankyou so much mate! 😁👍👍

[@emptytinny]

Happy to help cheers mate 👍

[@jimlindsay3102]

Love ya work, glad I’m not the only one that flings dud parts into the neighbours yard

[@emptytinny]

Thanks Jim you gave me a laugh mate cheers mate 🍻

[@jimlindsay3102]

@@emptytinny glad i gave you a chuckle, gotta laugh or else you cry haha

[@NaiteSkuse]

Cheers man this will be helpful when my tensioner arrives. Will save this video

[@abecsteve]

greatly appreciate the video! looks like you've helped up to 20 thousand people do this job now :D

[@emptytinny]

Your very welcome mate glad it's helping people . Cheers 👍🍻

[@robynwieck9435]

Thanks , I have to do my plenum intake gaskets and couldn’t understand why I had to remove the tensioner and your video shows me why ,the water pipe goes thru to the thermostats housing thanhs again regards Geoff wieck

[@wfatube]

Thanks mate, EXACTLY what I needed, Step by Step is a Great Help !

[@emptytinny]

Glad the video helped mate , cheers 🍻

[@declinetostatedeclinetosta9599]

Thanks heaps, got the job done and did not make any of those easy mistakes because of your guide. I was also able to not loose too much coolant by using 25mm and 20mm conduit plugs with some electrical tape to bung in the holes.

[@emptytinny]

Glad the video's helped , cheers mate 👍

[@michaelosullivan8119]

Im definetly get this sorted and cant wait to do me skids badly be keen as and commodores are best and ecotecs motor hard to kill

[@emptytinny]

Hi Mick , yes mate i love the 3.8ltr ecotecs aswell, there not only hard to kill but also good on go juice , ya get about 40 rides to the hogs head 👍. Cheers mate ....

[@michaelosullivan8119]

@@emptytinny ive had bigger valve springs and 2.5 inch extractors with 2.5 hotdog muffler and man its sound sick and had few of people say whats in my bonnet sounded like formula f1 cars lols

[@187th]

Now im watching all these to get it in my head before i try next week..

[@emptytinny]

Yep there is parts 1 , 2 , 3 part 3 is very important. Cheers bro.

[@187th]

@@emptytinny im slowing down. Wont drink before i do it next time... thanks for these.

[@andrewlace]

Thanks mate I had the studs in the wrong order. Huge help. Kudos.

[@Steve-lu8oj]

your a bloody champion,now i know how to do it.thanks mate.

[@emptytinny]

No probs steve , i hope you read the part about what quantity parts to buy , "ALL GATES" PARTS as the eBay cheap stuff doesn't last very long. Cheers mate 👍

[@grahamcassells7618]

Thanks - great vid, saved me trying to work this out, got mine changed over and working again.

[@emptytinny]

Happy to help Graham you done it right good work 👍🍻 cheers mate

[@for.w.07.20]

Thanks mite for the help I had the same problem with my VS Commodore

[@TheMusclepig]

Thanks fella. Left hand thread was the thing i wanted to know. Thank you for posting.

[@emptytinny]

Tony Weston HI Tony , your welcome mate , Glad it helped . Cheers mate 🍻

[@mossamate7143]

Honestly helped me heaps, cheers dude

[@emptytinny]

Your welcome mate , glad it helped you cheers 👍

[@Zero_Ego]

Handy tips. BTW it's standard practice to disconnect the Negative terminal of the battery. (There is a key reason)

[@peterunderwood6607]

Thanks heaps for this video it has honestly helped me big time I was concerned about the pipe that goes through the body of the assembly again thanks heaps

[@emptytinny]

Your very welcome peter, cheers mate 🍻

[@TheCrazycrab2]

I love the excitement when you got the tensioner off haha, throw it in the lawn and hit it full revs LOVEEE ITTT 😂 Bro you are a absolute legend ma man showing us people how to preserve these beast ! Thank you for noticing no one else had made a video on this procedure! Cracking beers after I change this tensioner

[@emptytinny]

Your very welcome mate , there's 3 parts to that video part 1 2 & 3 number 3 is important . Cheers mate 🍻🍻🍻👍

[@TheCrazycrab2]

@@emptytinny Oi you’ll love this story so get this: So I awoke this morning, my first day off...8am birds are chirping as I crack open my first beer. The challenge begins. I load up KZbin on my computer and start watching your 3- part series on how to do a tensioner. 9:30am I begin the process of disconnecting the battery, alternator leads and plug, brace and loosen the belt. I check tensioner for play, no play...what, I check the water pump for play, omg there’s so much play it turns out my water pump was bad. Long story short new water pump, new tensioner in all because of your video haha cheers brother hope you enjoyed the story.

[@emptytinny]

@@TheCrazycrab2 lol well at least you know it's been done now and won't need doing again for years , had to do my wife's water pump last year aswell . Cheers mate 🍻🍻🍻

[@stiopicmyosick]

@@emptytinny is that belt tensioner still going good?

[@emptytinny]

@@stiopicmyosick Sure is it's spot on perfect 👍. Cheers mate....

[@musicman8138]

Awsome thanks mate, as I blew my belt tensioner pulley out on the m4 freeway near yass

[@staceyhannam4957]

Appreciate this video a lot would have probably taken double the time it took me off I hadn’t had watched these videos 1st thanks for that

[@emptytinny]

Glad to help stacey cheers mate.

[@marcelmuller7977]

Hey mate. Great movie. I'm having trouble getting the harmonic balancer nut off so I can replace timing chain. Can ya make a movie doing a timing chain. Start to Finnish.

[@Dutchy695]

Left hand thread I suspect and usual they are tight so breaker bar needed but do confirm about the left hand thread

[@angusarnol9177]

guru, cheers heaps mate. would you have any idea as to why/how the belt on my VY would jump off? tensioner seems fine and belt is in good condition.. refitting it roadside is a bit of a challenge...

[@emptytinny]

Angus Arnol Hi Angus , i would check that it is actually the correct belt firstly , then have a look when the belt is on the motor , stand on the drivers side and with your eye's line up the edging of the belt to make sure that all your pulleys are inline , as on my vx i found my alternator was way to far inwards to all the other pulleys so i took off the pulley on the alternator and made a spacer to go behind the pulley to space it out so it was all inline with the rest of the pulleys . Basically make sure the belt is running straight. Cheers hope this helps.

[@angusarnol9177]

@@emptytinny video was heaps of help, i'll check allignment once i've refitted the belt. cheers

[@Zero_Ego]

Hey mate, how much for your wrist watch? I like it.

[@ListlessAU]

Having trouble trying to get the tensioner off with the pipe in it, did you pull the pipe all the way through the left side?

[@emptytinny]

Just pull the centre small pipe out about 2 inches but disconnect the hose off it first then take off the tensioner 👍. Cheers.

[@wfatube]

Thanks mate, Exactly the video I needed ! The Step by Step is ESSENTIAL for this job and I ALWAYS have problems fitting a new Belt (Any HINTS ?)

[@bobbyboy7480]

Hows that tensioner pulley holding up? Im looking at that brand you bought or the more expensive gates brand

[@emptytinny]

Hi Bobby , actually funny you ask because i had to replace it again due to being a cheap pile of crap i got less than 5000 kms out of it so i put a GATES on at about $120 AU , the quality difference between the two is clear when you sit them side by side. I also put all new GATES hose kit and heater valve assembly on at the same time. Cheers mate and don't spare the $$$$ 👍

[@bobbyboy7480]

@@emptytinny Exactly why I asked! Ive been warned against the crappy eBay stuff going cheap. When its time ill go the gates or Dayco brand. Cheers old mate!

[@jackdoolan3748]

When taking the pipe out that goes through the tensioner pulley and into the thermostat Did u just pull it hard

[@emptytinny]

Hi jack , basically yes , just keep wriggling it while pulling on it and it should come out easy unless someone has glued it in. Cheers mate.

[@jackdoolan3748]

@@emptytinny I have been wiggling at at it for like 20 mins lol it turns but I just can’t seem to get it out

[@emptytinny]

Try turning it up with where the bolt bracket is and put a spanner over the pipe up against the bracket , then tap the spanner with something 👍

[@jackdoolan3748]

@@emptytinny will give it a try tomorrow and cheers for the help

[@emptytinny]

@@jackdoolan3748 someone must of glued it and the o-ring is stuck , failing that you may have to use LPG Heat to free it up on the end bit . ....

[@itriedok-2254]

Hit with the lawnmower full noise hahah best comment ever

[@wisecampmotorcycles8258]

If I need to just replace the O ring, on the pipe that goes into the thermostat housing, do I need to remove the belt tensioner?

[@emptytinny]

Not off memory no , just take off the hose , undo 1 bolt and it should slide out I'm pretty sure , use some plumber thread tape around it and heat resistant silicon and push it back in , let sit overnight , top up fluids and give her a run . Cheers mate 🍻👍

[@wisecampmotorcycles8258]

@@emptytinny looks like I probably won't have enough room to just pull that pipe out, it will hit the inner guard before it comes all the way out of the tensioner. Did you have to put the heater pipe into the housing before you bolted the tensioner on ?

[@emptytinny]

@@wisecampmotorcycles8258 Hi mate , yeah i was thinking about that today as to weather you'd have enough room , if its hitting the wall the sad new is your going to have to do the dead and take off the tensioner unfortunately , because you'll have to prep the pipes end properly and then insert it back into the tensioner , if you push it in slowly when putting it back together , as soon as the bolt hole line's up with the heater pipe slot wack the bolt in it so it doesn't go in to far 👍. Cheers mate let me know how you go.

[@wisecampmotorcycles8258]

@@emptytinny Will do. Thanks for the advice. 👍

[@wisecampmotorcycles8258]

@@emptytinny Hi mate, I finally finished the job today. I let the sealant dry overnight. I was nervous to put coolant in it, but it all went well. No leaks. If I had to do it again, I could almost do it with my eyes closed, thanks to your video mate, it helped me out all the way. Cheers 👍

[@roryfitzgerald4010]

Legend!

[@martinsnow4133]

U the man boss

[@emptytinny]

Martin Snow Cheers mate , glad it helped 🍻

[@alexanderstevens145]

Tell you what that coolant looks clean 👍

[@robster382]

I learnt the alternator plug the hard way 😂

[@emptytinny]

Lol 😂🍻🍻🍻👍

[@bradillingworth4761]

How long did it take you to do roughly mate ? I'm doing mine today in my vs Ecojet

[@emptytinny]

If you haven't done it before you'd probably want to give yourself around 3 hrs taking your time , its not hard just make sure you put a sealant on them O-rings and all should be fine 👍. Cheers mate 🍻

[@bradillingworth4761]

@@emptytinny thanks mate I thought it would be a few hours no rush cheers

[@bradillingworth4761]

How much coolant did you lose ?

[@subah007]

Hi mate, can you do a vid on changing out an oil pump on a vt/vx.

[@emptytinny]

subah007 Hi , i will if i actually have to fix one but I'm hoping i don't lol. Cheers mate.

[@jackmcclernon7618]

Engine out

[@Zero_Ego]

Do you make house calls ?

[@ashluna27]

**SAFETY WARNING** Do Not take off the positive lead off the battery first. If your spanner or ratchet touches any metal while taking off the positive you will shock yourself and most probable damage electrical components or even weld your tool to your car.

[@ashluna27]

Other than that, good video.

[@emptytinny]

Ashley Savio , hi ok now i know about this move and let me ask you this , what do you think will happen if i take off the negative first and i short the terminal with a spanner in the same way ??? It's a matter of " caution " either way . But thanks for your comment. Cheers 👍

[@ashluna27]

@@emptytinny I'm not having a go but if you do the same with the negative it will do absolutely nothing as your effectively earthing the earth lead. That's why it's safer to remove the negative first and put it back on last.

[@emptytinny]

@@ashluna27 Hi , dam i don't know how i miss-read your first message but i thought you were saying to take off the positive first , sorry yes i totally agree to take off the negative first infact I've had this age old conversation with many people , i mean once the negative is disconnected the system is dead , and as long as the key is out and OFF the only concern you would have is to not short across the 2 terminals with tools , in saying that if people want to be truly safe , hey take the battery out all together . Cheers 🍻

[@ashluna27]

@@emptytinny All the best👍

[@rahmatullahzameri6876]

Sheets movie

[@MsDichotomy]

The aftermarket tensioner is shit. Don’t buy one they are very poorly made and are imitation parts.

[@emptytinny]

Hi MsDich ,. Yes i agree the cheap one i bought originally off ebay for about $45 only lasted for about 5000kms and it was worn-out so i had to do it all again , so thats why i state buy the "Gates Brand " as they cost more but last ages . Cheers mate 🍻

[@MsDichotomy]

@@emptytinny . I bought the gates one yesterday. I sold the car for $2 to a battler as is ,,but my conscience got the better of me .So it’s cost me $225 for a new tensioner and belt. No good deed goes unpunished.

[@NaiteSkuse]

Cheers man this will be helpful when my tensioner arrives. Will save this video

[@emptytinny]

@@NaiteSkuse hi make sure you watch all 3 parts to this job , cheers mate 👍🍻

[@haydenmackenzie5782]

Did you have lack of acceleration when the idler tensioner went?

[@emptytinny]

Hayden Mackenzie Hi no i did not , basically i had a squealing noise from the belt . If you have a lack of power I'd check your air filter , spark plugs , and leads first , if that doesn't work check your fuel pump (it's inside the fuel tank ) and the fuel filter . Cheers and good luck 🍻👍