Pulley Tensioner

***SMWS6TA*** · 02-26-2010, 12:05 PM

How do you know when your pulley tensioner needs to be replaced?

**SOMbitch** · 02-26-2010, 12:47 PM

Mine have always gotten noisey and/ or wobbly. Get a Katech if you can.....

**JaycenK** · 02-27-2010, 11:39 AM

The tensioner pulley or the tensioner spring? I am LT1 so I don't know if there are the same type tensioner. The spring usually will be good for a long time and the pully usually looses the bearing. If you have a bad bearing that transfers a lot of heat to the spring it can weaken it but there are usually marks on the tensioner that show where the tensioner should be. It's a range and it depends on how stretched the belt is. On a new belt the tensioner should never leave the range. If it does the spring could be weak or there may be a problem with another pulley or accessory.

**Hi-Po** · 02-27-2010, 12:33 PM

If your belt starts walking off, or gets completely thrown off, its time to replace. I put a Katech tensioner on mine and it works flawlessly, highly recommend it over a stock replacement.

***SMWS6TA*** · 03-01-2010, 08:06 AM

I'm thinking it may be time for a new belt. I checked it again this past weekend and wasn't getting any noise. I have no idea when the belt was last changed, I've only had the car for a yr and I've been replacing worn out stuff as well as installing performance upgrades. I'm asking only because when I do a medium to hard launch my check gauges light comes on and my volts gauge drops into the 9 -10 volt range , then climbs back up after I get to cruise. I know I have a PS hose leak that's going to get fix somehow this weekend. I hate GM for putting the alternator below the PS Pump. Dumbass engineers.

**rchops33** · 03-01-2010, 11:28 AM

Change the belt.

**redbird555** · 03-01-2010, 12:19 PM

Originally Posted by SMWS6TA

I'm thinking it may be time for a new belt. I checked it again this past weekend and wasn't getting any noise. I have no idea when the belt was last changed, I've only had the car for a yr and I've been replacing worn out stuff as well as installing performance upgrades. I'm asking only because when I do a medium to hard launch my check gauges light comes on and my volts gauge drops into the 9 -10 volt range , then climbs back up after I get to cruise. I know I have a PS hose leak that's going to get fix somehow this weekend. I hate GM for putting the alternator below the PS Pump. Dumbass engineers.

Just some food for thought but the voltage and power steering could be connected. ive seen a number on these cars on tech where a hose ruptures and squirts fluid into the alternator causing intermitant shorts just like u describe, eventually it just kills the alternator.

**SOMbitch** · 03-01-2010, 12:45 PM

Originally Posted by redbird555

Just some food for thought but the voltage and power steering could be connected. ive seen a number on these cars on tech where a hose ruptures and squirts fluid into the alternator causing intermitant shorts just like u describe, eventually it just kills the alternator.

Had this happen to me......

**Smittro** · 03-01-2010, 02:01 PM

They will also chatter sometimes @ idle and then it will sometimes go away when giving it some throttle.. A dry bearing is easily detected by removing the belt and spinning the pully. If it makes a marble rolling on the floor sound, this is usually a good indicattion of a dry bearing. A dry bearing = a fail will come eventually..