ATX serpentine belt tensioner

[EL SHO]

Hey guys, just a quick question

Is the serpetine belt tensioner for ATX SHOs really that rare nowdays?

I've done a search with the main part stores retailers, RockAuto, SHO Source and here in the forums trying to see if they are still available and found nothing.

I'm trying to rule out an issue with my car and now I'm hoping is not the belt tensioner.

 

[NoSlo]

They had it at the first place I went to, of course that was the NAPA distribution warehouse...

 

[EL SHO]

They had it at the first place I went to, of course that was the NAPA distribution warehouse...

haha.. ok, I guess having the distribution warehouse does come in handy from time to time.
The one you got from NAPA is their own brand?

seems like the only option for people that need it is to find a used one or try to custom fit a different one.

 

[K-Dawg]

Should be available about anywhere. RockAuto lists about 10 of them, from $3.33 up to about $30. My local parts place has them in stock.

 

[kevinspann]

He left the word tensioner out in his first post...

 

[EL SHO]

He left the word tensioner out in his first post...

didn't see that I meant to say serpentine belt Tensioner

thanks man, I fixed it up!

 

[SHOdded]

Ford dealerships still list it as available (don't know if that's really true), but it's almost $300! I don't have the Ford part number, otherwise, could also try at rearcounter.com, fordpartsgiant.com, etc.

 

[kevinspann]

Shame, I had a low mileage one and left it at the junkyard because I didn't need it for my MTX.

What's wrong with your tensioner?

 

[EL SHO]

Shame, I had a low mileage one and left it at the junkyard because I didn't need it for my MTX.

What's wrong with your tensioner?

Not really sure if it's the tensioner or not (ATX), is just that I start the car and I can hear something like hitting the timing belt cover(s). It would kinda sound that is comming from the inside of the covers, like something is loose and bouncing all over the place.

I took the covers off along with the serpentine left and started the car with only the battery (no accesories) and I there was no noise. The timing belt looks fine and tight.

If I go back and put back together the serpentine belt and start the car normally the noise comes back.

I checked the serpentine belt and seems ok, I spinned every possible pulley and they don't sound rough. I was just thinking of the possibility of being the tensioner and how hard it would be to get.

Now, last night when I place everything back again, by mistake I didn't aligned the belt correctly and one of the pulleys cut the belt, it didn't cut it in half, but just one of the belt lines... so now the belt is one line narrower but is still usable. Anyway I installed the belt that way, now being narrower, started the car and no more noise is heard!
I left the car running for almost 10 minutes, with or without A/C and nothing, everything quiet.

I just don't know what really is/was making the noise.

 

[kevinspann]

How difficult is it to rotate the serpentine belt tensioner?

 

[EL SHO]

How difficult is it to rotate the serpentine belt tensioner?

I have to push on it hard and do lever with the ratchet and another wrench, so it is tight to move.

 

[kevinspann]

That shouldn't be the issue if the pulley on it is tight. And you said the noise goes away when the serp. belt is off. Hmm...video?

 

[EL SHO]

That shouldn't be the issue if the pulley on it is tight. And you said the noise goes away when the serp. belt is off. Hmm...video?

yep, that's right. at least until yesterday when at the end I installed the narrower belt on it wouldn't make the noise anymore.

I'll test it again today and tomorrow and will take a video if the noise begins again.

Recently I replaced spark plugs and valve cover gaskets and was afraid something might have been bouncing around inside the valve covers (I didn't mess with belt or pulleys that day), but no... once the belt was off the noise stopped and the noise was comming from the pulleys area.

 

[SHOtimer]

Yes, the tensioner is hard to get a hold of, but they rarely fail. The tensioner I have never seen fail, just the alignment peg on the back break. If the pulley on it is failing, that can be changed out separately.

To remove the tensioner you must remove the power steering pulley first to gain access to the tensioner mounting bolt.

Doug

 

[RonJohn]

does the noise go away after 1600 rpm?

 

[EL SHO]

does the noise go away after 1600 rpm?

Actually there is no more noise for the moment, but I believe I finally found what was causing it....the harmonic balancer/crank pulley is splitting!

How I know? well I cheked the belt the other day and looked at it and the pulley is going closer to the timing belt cover, it would seem that the plastic damper was what it was making the noise when it broke.

I found a few old posts that say that is common for the crank pulleys on ATX cars to brake/split so I ordered a replacement from RockAuto.