2.3 Accessory Belt Tensioner And Idler Puller

[Steve P]

The price difference between the accessory belt tensioner (which comes complete with a new pulley) and the other idler pulley on the belt is quite a lot. Edited December 29, 2008 by Steve P

[seatkid]

I had a squeaky belt on my golf a long time ago. Used some talc on the belt and it reduced the squeaking. French chalk is supposedly the stuff to use.

 

Its most probably due to a misalignment problem, which may be the tensioner or it could be a manufacturing fault with the belt. Make sure the ribs are running in the correct grooves!

[s.whitham]

yes the tensioner pulley seized on my 2.3 zetec i am the same dont want to spend more than needed so i bought the idler pulley they are the same it's just the bushes it cost me

[richardsheil]

In my experience squeaky belts are caused by the freewheeling mechanism on the alternator pulley having seized.

 

This is worth investigation.

[davethedoor]

I have V reg 2000 2.3 Galaxy can anybody tell me if this has a freewheling alternator?? which dose not sqeak. I have a bad sqeaky tensioner which i am changing this week , would this make my stering wheel very jerkey at low revs .Thanks

[sparky Paul]

I have V reg 2000 2.3 Galaxy can anybody tell me if this has a freewheling alternator?? which dose not sqeak. I have a bad sqeaky tensioner which i am changing this week , would this make my stering wheel very jerkey at low revs .Thanks

 

AFAIK none of the 2.3 alternators have the free wheeling pulley on them. Either a bad tensioner or idler pulley would cause the symptoms you describe, or indeed a bad belt or possibly alternator bearings.

 

I've changed both the idler and tensioner pulleys on mine, and they do indeed appear to be the same basic pulley on each.

Edited March 7, 2009 by sparky Paul