This a Common Problem?

**Smkn_TA** · 06-11-2009, 06:52 PM

My Air Conditioning was piss warm today. Before I recharge it I thought I would check the belt. Took off the serpentine belt first to get it off.

Then I went to do the tensioner on the ac belt. I pulled the tensioner back and it stayed in place. lol. The thing literally had no spring left. And I have GOT to get pics up of the belt. If the tensioner was working, I guarantee you there is no way in hell that belt would have lasted on revolution.

Anyways, the tensioner is 50 bucks. But is this a common ailment?

**0rion** · 06-12-2009, 08:20 AM

kinda.....the tensioners are known to go out along with the idler pulleys also.

**pajeff02** · 06-12-2009, 04:58 PM

Originally Posted by 0rion

kinda.....the tensioners are known to go out along with the idler pulleys also.

We'll be tripping a bit with our car this summer. I checked everything when I did my spring service and the pulleys and tensioners all felt good. Generally speaking, are we talking catastrophic failures with no warning? Or does it start to sing a bit so you have some time to change the idler out? I presume the latter from past experience, however, this is my first LS1.

**LETHALxLS1** · 06-12-2009, 05:12 PM

I could hear the bearings in mine before it went.

**0rion** · 06-12-2009, 06:46 PM

yeah, they'll usually make some kind of racket to let you know.

**BlueMagicSS** · 06-12-2009, 08:21 PM

Yeah I've heard of a few of them singing like a little birdy.... mine included

**dklowrider** · 06-13-2009, 07:51 AM

Originally Posted by 0rion

kinda.....the tensioners are known to go out along with the idler pulleys also.

this will sound like a dumb question. when i changed belts late last fall it was cold, and i was in a hurry, but when i pulled on the a/c tensioner it was tight. had to loosen the bolt and move the pulley like the old style alt belt adjustment, i just assumed it was a fixed tensioner. is it supposed to be spring loaded?