What will a bad belt tensioner do?
Why Driving With a Bad Belt Tensioner is a Mistake Wear on the belt tensioner will eventually cause the belt to slip, generate loud noise, and also create an unsafe level of heat along the accessory pulleys. Furthermore, belt tensioner wear will also decrease accessory performance.
Can you drive with a broken belt tensioner?
”It is not safe to drive with a bad belt tensioner because the belt tensioner ensures sufficient tension to power the accessories. As the tensioner wears, the belt can slip at the accessories creating noise, excessive heat at the accessory pulleys, and reduce accessory performance.
What happens if you don’t replace belt tensioner?
As the drive belt tensioner continues to break down, a variety of aspects of your vehicle will start to suffer. It can affect your alternator, power steering, and your air conditioning since they are all powered through the drive belt. These issues will just become more and more pronounced.
Is it hard to replace a belt tensioner?
Serpentine belt replacement is easy because today’s automatic drive belt tensioners eliminate the need to loosen bolts or pry components into position for retensioning. When the belt ribs are seated into the pulley grooves, release the tensioner and you’re done.
How much does it cost to replace belt tensioner?
The average cost for a drive belt tensioner replacement is between $211 and $239. Labor costs are between $73 and $93, while parts are priced between $138 and $146.
What causes tensioner to fail?
Dirt or mud can also jam the tensioner housing. A loose or worn pivot arm can allow unwanted movement; that results in belt noise and misalignment. Over time, this will increase belt wear and lead to premature belt failure. A worn bushing in the tensioner pulley, can cause vibrations and noise.
How long does it take to replace a drive belt tensioner?
It should only take about an hour of work for the replacement, but sometimes it can be more, which can drive up the labor costs, and that varies from one car to the next.
