Tensioner replacement

[lilpoindexter]

My car was making an awful nails on chalk board sqreach. And I was finding pools of coolant under the car, nder the water pump. Cool...replaced the water pump, there was dampness and dirtyness from the leaking pump all around....im thinking right on. i put a new pump on, fill it with coolant all proud of myself....and....the awful screach came back...but no leaks....wtf.
I thought it was either the alternator or the tensioner....i tried using a rod as a stethoscope on the alternator and tensioner, but it didnt really help. I pulled out some super duper bike chain lube i have...i sprayed a little on the alt...very minor change...i spray under the head of the tensioner bolt....the screach went away 90%...i try spraying on the back of the tensioner....and it quiets down some more...
WTH happened???? Is it possible the pump was spraying the tensioner unbenownst to me for months...or perhaps its just part of having old ass cars?
It doesnt look like the tensioner is available by itself...only as the complete bracket...is there a particular part somebody has used that works well?

 

[Homer Jay]

It may not be the tensioner, what is the condition/age of the belt? Especially if it has been exposed to coolant for a long period of time.
Lube may have gotten on the belt and helped reduce the noise.

 

[lilpoindexter]

It may not be the tensioner, what is the condition/age of the belt? Especially if it has been exposed to coolant for a long period of time.
Lube may have gotten on the belt and helped reduce the noise.

The belt looks decent, it is barely starting to show little microscopic cracks on the ribbed side BUT...it was on the car when I bought it in 2021. Who know how old it is....yeah...maybe i will try a new belt

 

[Buick City Bert]

Do yourself a favor, replace the tensioner, and the belt, use the gates kit with the aluminum elbow, and connector, because when I took the old crusty tensioner (with the integral coolant channels) off, the elbow and connector originally glass filled nylon crumbled into little pieces. Get good for a long reliable run that way.

GATES 90K38271B

 

[lilpoindexter]

Do yourself a favor, replace the tensioner, and the belt, use the gates kit with the aluminum elbow, and connector, because when I took the old crusty tensioner (with the integral coolant channels) off, the elbow and connector originally glass filled nylon crumbled into little pieces. Get good for a long reliable run that way.

GATES 90K38271B

I actually chuckled when i saw the tensioner/belt / elbows kit...someone else has been through this

 

[2007LucerneCXL]

You may want to replace the tensioner bearing pulley as it's a lot easier than the entire unit, RockAuto has them and be mindful it's a reverse thread.

 

[lilpoindexter]

great idea

 

[lilpoindexter]

Do yourself a favor, replace the tensioner, and the belt, use the gates kit with the aluminum elbow, and connector, because when I took the old crusty tensioner (with the integral coolant channels) off, the elbow and connector originally glass filled nylon crumbled into little pieces. Get good for a long reliable run that way.

GATES 90K38271B

I bought that gates kit...im watching a video on replacing the thing...it talks about replacing the heater hose fitting orings...did you do that?

 

[2007LucerneCXL]

Depending on age and condition the inlets and especially the O-rings should be replaced.

Website firewall

 

[Buick City Bert]

I bought that gates kit...im watching a video on replacing the thing...it talks about replacing the heater hose fitting orings...did you do that?

When I received the fittings they had new "O" rings already installed, just put a little silicone lube on and put them together.

 

[lilpoindexter]

Depending on age and condition the inlets and especially the O-rings should be replaced.
View attachment 49177

Website firewall

Yeah...o rings #15 and #7, not the elbows...im probably going to get a box of orings from harbor freight

 

[2007LucerneCXL]

I would stick with the GM O-rings across the board as the aftermarket ones have been known to fail at some point.

 

[ohioriver]

Dunno if this supplier would have the size that is needed, but I have used them to source Viton O-rings for motorcycle jobs and had no issues.

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