Ancillary Belt Tensioner Pulley Wobbles

[bigdave982]

hi all ,its a 97 1.9tdi 90hp

The auxillary belt tensioner (the one that drives the air con etc) pulley seems to have play in it ,can just this tensioner wheel be replaced or is it a whole new tensioner unit ,which looks expensive!!!!

cheers

[Masked Marauder]

You can replace just the pully, available from GSF.

[bigdave982]

that looks like the bit ,who is GSF and have you any contact details please

[Masked Marauder]

https://secure.gsfcarparts.com/shop

[bigdave982]

I thank you!!!!

[Topbloke]

as a cautionary note the tensioner has a nylon/plastic bush internall and the spring tension tends to put undue presure on this and when a little age the tesioner roller(the black bit) starts to run slightly on the p*ss so changing the roller on its own usually a false econnomy

[Masked Marauder]

The bearing was shot in my tensioner roller, I changed it, it has been fine since (12K miles)

[Guest neil_wiles]

I had the same problem as this on my MK1 TDi the main cause was the spring pressure as described by Topbloke.

 

What happens is that whilst the constant spring force is used in tensioning the belt the reactant force is through the nylon bearing into the casting that is bolted to the front of the engine block. This casting acts as a mounting point for the alternator, power steering and air conditioning unit, when the nylon bush has worn through the casting takes over the "bearing" and if you start to hear a constant screeching from the belt during the drive cycle you will already have the shaft worn through the nylon and into the casting.

 

The full consequence of this nylon bush wearing out is that the idler pulley sits onto the belt at an angle, fails to tension it correctly so any moisture results in slippage and then due purely to the physics of angles and loads starts to prematurely fail the belts. eg the belt on mine ended up failing every 500 miles or so.

 

The repair is extensive as the bush cannot be replaced as an item the whole casting and spring tensioner arm has to be replaced, this means the disassembly of the alternator, power steering pump and air conditioning unit. Although removal from the casting is required the actual disconnection of the gas and fluid pipes can be avoided.

 

The remarkable silence and smoothing of the engine when this is done almost makes it worthwhile but I am sure I was imagining the screech.

 

 

If you need any further info on the casting (which I hope you wont) just pm me and I will be able to grab some piccies if I still have the old casting.

[Masked Marauder]

Ah, yes, but he is complaning about a wobbly pully. Mine was just the same, very wobbly and the bearing rough and rumbling.

 

I bought a new pully for about

[Guest Snooper601]

Ford now supply the rollers made of steel, not plastic. They seem to be stronger, they don't distort easily like the old plastic ones.

 

Cheers

[brasso27]

Hi,

 

I have a similar problem on my "00" Galaxy TDI LX and any assistance would be gratefully received.

 

Not sure if I should add it to this post as its the same problem, or if I should create a new one.

 

There was a loud screeching noise coming from the engine followed by the aux belt stripping on one side (taking off one full V) and then coming off.

(I've put the damaged belt back on and the car runs ok but I haven't driven it).

 

I've taken a look and taken the tensioner pulley off and it spins freely but does wobble from side to side easily (quite loose), I'm assuming that its not supposed to do this?

 

So my question; should I replace the tensioner pulley and belt, which I may be able to do myself or should I take it to the garage and get them to replace the tensioner assembly, the tensioner pulley and the belt?

 

Many thanks

[paul1964]

Hi,

 

I have a similar problem on my "00" Galaxy TDI LX and any assistance would be gratefully received.

 

Not sure if I should add it to this post as its the same problem, or if I should create a new one.

 

There was a loud screeching noise coming from the engine followed by the aux belt stripping on one side (taking off one full V) and then coming off.

(I've put the damaged belt back on and the car runs ok but I haven't driven it).

 

I've taken a look and taken the tensioner pulley off and it spins freely but does wobble from side to side easily (quite loose), I'm assuming that its not supposed to do this?

 

So my question; should I replace the tensioner pulley and belt, which I may be able to do myself or should I take it to the garage and get them to replace the tensioner assembly, the tensioner pulley and the belt?

 

Many thanks

Have you checked the alternator clutch pully,? when it fails that can cause the belt to squeal.

[seatkid]

Hi,

 

I have a similar problem on my "00" Galaxy TDI LX and any assistance would be gratefully received.

 

Not sure if I should add it to this post as its the same problem, or if I should create a new one.

 

There was a loud screeching noise coming from the engine followed by the aux belt stripping on one side (taking off one full V) and then coming off.

(I've put the damaged belt back on and the car runs ok but I haven't driven it).

 

I've taken a look and taken the tensioner pulley off and it spins freely but does wobble from side to side easily (quite loose), I'm assuming that its not supposed to do this?

 

So my question; should I replace the tensioner pulley and belt, which I may be able to do myself or should I take it to the garage and get them to replace the tensioner assembly, the tensioner pulley and the belt?

 

Many thanks

 

replace the tensioner pulley and belt but not the tensioner itself as its usually ok (its just a strongly sprung lever) and that bits quite expensive and a bit fiddly top change (again expensive). Before putting the belt on check the alternator pulley as suggested by paul. If its a PD engine the pulley will be a "one way pulley" - carefully hold the rotor of the alternator and check the pulley freewheels in one direction but locks in the other. They fail by locking in both directions which in turn stresses the tensioner causing it to bounce like mad at idle or under low speed acceleration -> belt/tensioner failure.

 

If the alternator pulley looks as if its stuffed then first check the alternator part no. to make sure it is a one way pulley, then its either a new pulley (around £50 plus fitting) or a new alternator. Not all garages want to fit the new pulley......