How do I know if my AC belt tensioner is bad?
One of the most common symptom of a bad or failing drive belt tensioner is noise from the belts or tensioner. If the tensioner is loose the belts may squeak or squeal, especially when the engine is first started.
Why is my tensioner pulley making noise?
If any tensioner pulley begins to wear out with time, it’ll create more of a chirping noise. You’ll also hear the chirping noise if the pulley grooves are damaged. This happens over the years due to friction, leading to cracks in the belt.
Can a belt tensioner make a rattling noise?
When the tensioner or tensioner pulley fails, the loss of tension can cause the belt and pulleys to make high-pitched rattling or chirping noises. If the pulley bearing completely fails, it can also cause a squealing or even a grinding noise.
How do you know if your belt tensioner needs to be replaced?
Checking the Tensioner If you hear grinding or the pulley doesn’t spin freely, replace the tensioner. When you replace the belt, it should take a lot of muscle power to move the tensioner. If you can move it easily, the spring tension is most likely not tight enough.
What sound does a bad tensioner pulley make?
When the tensioner or tensioner pulley fails, the loss of tension can cause the belt and pulleys to make high-pitched rattling or chirping noises. If the pulley bearing completely fails, it can also cause a squealing or even a grinding noise. Symptom 2: Knocking or slapping. This can cause a slapping or knocking noise.
What happens when tensioner pulley goes bad?
Driving with a bad belt tensioner is unsafe since the tensioner is meant to guarantee ample tension that powers accessories. 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.
What does a bad belt tensioner pulley sound like?
Is belt tensioner supposed to vibrate?
Grinding noises – Grinding and rumbling noises are another common sign of tensioner or idler pulley failure, usually due to failing bearings. Excessive tensioner movement – Worn-out coil springs can also cause drive belt tensioners to loosen their grip on the drive belt, resulting in excessive vibration and rattling.
What does a broken belt tensioner sound like?
When the tensioner or tensioner pulley fails, the loss of tension can cause the belt and pulleys to make high-pitched rattling or chirping noises. If the pulley bearing completely fails, it can also cause a squealing or even a grinding noise. Symptom 2: Knocking or slapping.
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.
What causes an air conditioning compressor belt to make noise?
The air conditioning compressor is driven by a separate belt that is mounted low on the engine and behind the accessory belt. Both belts have GM auto-tensioners, which maintain spring pressure to automatically adjust for optimum tension as the belt wears. Belt noise begins when the spring weakens or the pulley bearing begins to wobble.
How do I know if my belt tensioner is bad?
While the engine is idling and with the air conditioner on, lightly spritz the belts with a water bottle spray. A steady or increasing noise indicates that the belt tensioner is weak and should be replaced.
How do you remove the drive belt from a Chevy Silverado?
Rotate the tensioner clockwise against the spring, and hold it. Then slip the belt off the tensioner pulley. Release the tensioner slowly back to the spring stop. Slip the belt off the crank pulley and let it hang. Figure 4. Accessory drive belt removal.
How do I replace the belt tensioner on my Kenmore washer?
Insert a 3/8″ drive wrench into the square hole of the tensioner. Rotate the tensioner clockwise against the spring, and hold it. Then slip the belt off. Release the tensioner slowly back to the spring stop. Remove the two 15mm bolts and then remove the tensioner.