BELT TENSIONER CLUNKS

[piper7738w]

BELT TENSIONER CLUNKS AT LOW RPMS. GOES AWAY AT HIGHER RPMS (1000). I REPLACED IT WITH ONE FROM THE JUNK YARD, IT MAKES THE SAME NOISE. TOOK THE OLD ONE APART, ONLY FOUND THE SPRING, AN COUPLE OF PLASTIC SLEEVES, A WASHER. CLEANED AND GREASED THE PARTS,REINSTALLED STILL MAKES THE NOISE. DOES ANY ONE HAVE THE REMEDY? ARE NEW TENSIONERS AVAILABLE? IS THE PROBLEM THE TENSIONER?

[Reatta45]

It?s probably NOT your ?tensioner?? more apt to be your harmonic dampner? What year? KennyV.

PS? It looks like your Caps lock is ON? please unlock it. Makes for easier reading.

[manikmekanik]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> PS? It looks like your Caps lock is ON? please unlock it. Makes for easier reading.

</div></div>

...And it seems like you're YELLING!

Here's a photo of what to look for when checking your harmonic balancer (crankshaft pulley), the rubber-ish material in the center deteriorates, causing the outer ring of the pulley to slip. This may also, when worse, cause an "electrical problem" message, or worse yet, spit the belt out.

To remove, loosen the bolt in the center of the pulley, then for VIN "C" engines, the pulley can be "slipped" off the crankshaft. Vin "L" engines have a taper at the end of the shaft, a puller tool will be needed. Be careful not to damage the crank sensor located just behind the pulley, toward the front of the engine.

Replacement pulleys cost between $75 and $125, depending on vendor. I've replaced a few, and found them at NAPA & Auto Zone for $89 and $78, respectively.

[piper7738w]

Thank you for the tensioner info. I will take a look at the balancer. i have an 89 and love it. I do get an electrical problem warning on occassion. I get this when the car is in overdrive and I hit 50mph. the trans seems to kick in and out of gear. Could this be related to the balancer?

[piper7738w]

Thank you for the info on the belt tensioner. I have an 89 and love it. i will take a look at the balancer. I do get an electrical problem reading on occassion. It happens when the car is in overdrive and I do 50mph. The trans seems to kick in and out of gear. Could the also be related to the balancer?

[padgett]

More likely the thermostat is stuck open - what you are feeling is the TCC (lockup) cycling in an out, it will fel just like a shift. What is the coolant temperature reading when it does this ?

Are other things that can have the same effect (TPS, etc) but the thermostat will not trigger a diagnostic at the same time.

BTW the attachment was really noisy at idle but shut up above.