LT1 belt tensioner
#1
Launching!
Thread Starter
iTrader: (5)
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Syracuse NY
Posts: 244
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
LT1 belt tensioner
I bought my 97 TA this past September, and replaced the squeaking belt tensioner with an Autozone tensioner. It lasted about 2 months and started squeaking. I pulled it out, brought it back with the receipt, and they handed me a new one. I put that in, and now that one is starting to squeak.
I assumed the Autozone tensioners are just crap, but before I go out and buy a factory replacement....I wondered what you folks recommended?
-Rich
I assumed the Autozone tensioners are just crap, but before I go out and buy a factory replacement....I wondered what you folks recommended?
-Rich
#3
Launching!
Thread Starter
iTrader: (5)
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Syracuse NY
Posts: 244
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The belt alone did nothing, it was the tensioner doing the squeaking. Kinda makes me wonder...if something is making it squeak before it should...or if the Autozone tensioners are just crap.
#4
TECH Fanatic
So, the tensioner piece itself is squeaking? I'm an advocate of checking junkyards... maybe grab a stock one there.
Check that all your pulleys/balancers/wheels are inline and none of them are protruding out or in a little. On my 3rd gen I had years ago, I had a pulley put on backwards which was causing me to eat through a new belt about every 2 months. It sounds stupid but it wasn't obvoius from first glance, and after 3 or 4 belts I sat and looked at it for a while, compared to a buddies and identified the problem. Maybe something similar here...
Check that all your pulleys/balancers/wheels are inline and none of them are protruding out or in a little. On my 3rd gen I had years ago, I had a pulley put on backwards which was causing me to eat through a new belt about every 2 months. It sounds stupid but it wasn't obvoius from first glance, and after 3 or 4 belts I sat and looked at it for a while, compared to a buddies and identified the problem. Maybe something similar here...
#6
Launching!
Thread Starter
iTrader: (5)
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Syracuse NY
Posts: 244
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
It was shockingly cheap from Autozone, around $26 IIRC. Which is making me wonder if they are just junk.
I see nothing blatantly obvious wrong with any other pulleys, everything seems straight and true, and the belt is not wearing unevenly or anything.....it's just these tensioners only last a couple months before they start squeaking.
-Rich
I see nothing blatantly obvious wrong with any other pulleys, everything seems straight and true, and the belt is not wearing unevenly or anything.....it's just these tensioners only last a couple months before they start squeaking.
-Rich