Tensioner Pulley self destruction

[kj-7]

I finally got around to washing out my engine compartment this week. I blew all the dust/dirt/mouse nests out first with a leaf blower and then hosed out the engine bay. Of course, since everything was wet, my belt was squeaking. I inspected it and found nothing wrong

So, fast forward 2 days later on my lunch break. I started up my car only to be greeted by a very squeaky sound. Good thing I didn't write it off as just an effect from the washing because when I popped the hood I noticed about 3.5 inches of up and down play in the belt. Deduction lead me to a broken tensioner pulley so I promptly borrowed a friends car, purchased a new one and had it changed before lunch was over. Very easy replacement but cost 72 bucks! It does nothing but put tension on the belt! I could get an alternator cheaper than that!!!

A good lesson learned not to write off the simplest of things (though, If I would have drove off, I could have killed my KJ in a matter of minutes).

Anyone else ever have this tensioner go out on their KJ?

 

[ridenby]

Not yet,knock on wood.

 

[tjkj2002]

Yeah most poeple never think that the tensioner is also a wear item that wears out at the same rate as the serp belt so both should be changed at about 60,000miles since either can self destruct at anytime,more so after 60,000miles.It's also a good idea to keep the old belt and tensioner(if they appear to be okay as spares,just through in a bag in the back with the tools needed to change them).

 

[yellocoyote]

Had the idler pulley go out less than 2 weeks ago on my way home from CO. Replaced the tensioner pulley at the same time... it looked like original equipment. eek2.gif

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[Powerslave]

62K+ miles on mine, original belt and tensioner, not one peep...

All depends on how you drive it, and how you up-keep it all. Not all fail at the same time, I bet someone here has an original tensioner with over 100K miles on it...

 

[tjkj2002]

62K+ miles on mine, original belt and tensioner, not one peep...

All depends on how you drive it, and how you up-keep it all. Not all fail at the same time, I bet someone here has an original tensioner with over 100K miles on it...

Will they last longer? yes they can and yes they can fail sooner.At about 60,000miles your on a ticking time bomb for when it will go,it can at anytime then your up s#$t creek without that belt(and/or tensioner).The biggest issue is after time the belt will stretch where the tensioner can no longer keep optimal tension on the belt which makes it slip on the alternator and P/S pump(which may or may not be heard depending on temp),that in turn creates high heat which will destroy the belt in short order.


But it's your vehicle do as you wish.

 

[Marlon_JB2]

So tjkj, my sister's KJ has almost 64k on it. Laugh all you want but I just learned how to change the belt. Thing is, it doesn't look much worse than my belt with 24k on it. I've told her to be prepared to spend some money on a new one though.

Is this really really urgent?

 

[ridenby]

62K+ miles on mine, original belt and tensioner, not one peep...

All depends on how you drive it, and how you up-keep it all. Not all fail at the same time, I bet someone here has an original tensioner with over 100K miles on it...

180,000+,I have put 70,000 on lib,changed belt couple years ago,don't know if tensioner is original,do believe changing both is the project for today... among others.

 

[KJ zGal]

I know I haven't replaced mine since I got it at 87k, but there's no way for me to tell for sure whether the original owners did. Got 112k on it now. How do you tell exactly when it needs to be changed? I replaced the belt a few months ago but the pulley, no.

 

[offrovering]

Look down at my ac clutch chatter post, it was actually the tensioner. I have 104k miles but it rattled and sounded absolutely horrible. I am not sure about 60k for both but since both have proven history to go bad it isn't that expensive to just do both. I went with a gatorback belt though.

 

[renegade 04]

I have all you beat! I have the original belt Tensioner and I now am about to turn 130,000 miles, I will be replacing it asap because it has just started to make a little bit of noise.

 

[Don6one]

I took off the tensioner to change out the water pump, it came off easy enough, but won't fully tighten back into place. I am thinking the bolt or female threads stripped just enough to only tighten leaving an 1/16" gap. Sonofsomebiatch

Anyone else have this problem before?

 

[profdlp]

Have you got the little notch in the right place?

 

[Don6one]

Have you got the little notch in the right place?

Yep the notch is matched up - somehow the tread on the engine boogered up when I removed the bolt. Funny thing is, the bolt came out easily by hand so I don't know it could have cross threaded coming out or going back in. I added two washers to the bolt so the tensioner now fits back in place tight.

 

[profdlp]

That's an odd one. Glad you got it back on. :favorites13: