Automatic belt tensioner

Z_ealot

Searched around and couldn’t find anything to do with service intervals for the part mentioned in the subject, anyone happen to know if the belt tensioner has a specific replacement interval or is it just a part that if it stops providing the correct tension then it’s time to replace? Just curious cause I noticed mine seems to not be providing the correct tension to the belt any more and the belt wear indicator on the tensioner itself, even after swapping in a new belt, stays at almost the outer limit indicator for belt wear. Already have a replacement on order, but would appreciate any input anyone can provide so I know what to watch out for as far as the tensioner goes

Dreadnaught

If it's at the belt wear indicator go ahead and replace it like you are. I don't think I've ever saw in the Ford workshop manual about replacing the belt tensioner at a certain mileage. But, I never did look.

A good rule of thumb is just replace it say if you're replacing the belt at 100k then you should definitely replace the tensioner.

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Z_ealot

thats gonna be a pretty hefty chunk of change then if the belt tensioner has to be replaced every time the belt does then, oem tensioner is a little over $200 plus about $80 for the belt and i believe nissan states to change the belt every 60,000 miles

THE BULL

All that they are is a heavy duty spring trying to return to resting mode.
Depending on how far out you are in the mark will point to a tired tensioner.
As long as the belt is the same size as OEM only thing that would change this would be belt thickness. A thinner belt in size will yield a looser spec.

This is usually a working or not working item. If it holds tension it should be fine until the next belt interval.

Z_ealot

Ok that’s what I thought, thing that made me want to replace it is that even after replacing the old worn out oem belt with a new oem belt from Nissan is that the wear indicator on the tensioner itself is all the way out to where it would typically be when I know the belt needs to be replaced just barely outside the last mark. I bought the current tensioner as a used unit that supposedly only had about 60,000 on the tensioner assembly thinking maybe it would buy me some time till I got my hands on a new oem unit. It did its job, I’ll say that lol…the other thing that clued me in was when I went to take tension off the old belt the tensioner arm seemed to move with much less resistance than the last time I changed out a belt

redondoaveb

$280 is a hefty chunk of change every 60,000 miles? Nowadays, that's 3 tanks of gas

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THE BULL

I did not need this reminder

JARblue

My bearings started making noise around 110K miles. I just replaced all four of them. Kinda dumb the tensioner is one assembly but probably good to replace it anyway at this point. I already replaced the belt previously when I did the gallery gaskets.

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StingRayZ

I may be wrong, but the tensioner has three markings on top. I just finished gallery gasket and don't have the time to put back the AC compressor. So I bought a shorter belt (NAPA 25-070500). The belt is tight and the marking is not at center. So I'm thinking that since it is a new belt or shorter, the marking is an indication of wear. We will find out soon enough when I'm on the road if it worked.

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Tractionless

Name brand (AC delco, Gates, Conti) tensioners are $128-$153 and Gates belt $28 on Rockauto.

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