The previous owner put a new tensioner on and i think he forgot a spacer or something because when i put the belt on and start the car the belt moves about a 1/4 of the way off the tensioner and it is starting to wear. any ideas or does anyone have a diagram of how its supposed to be adn what parts should be there???
Belt Tensioner Problem (pics)
- Thread starter ozzy14159
- Start date
Is the belt properly lined up on all the other pulleys after it "walks" off the tensioner pulley?
There aren't any spacers or anything in there, so something isn't properly lined up there or something, I'm not sure.
There aren't any spacers or anything in there, so something isn't properly lined up there or something, I'm not sure.
glowstang93
20+ Year Stangneter 
I had the same problem when I replaced mine with a Dayco tensioner. Dayco tensioners have a plastic pulley like the one you have in the picture. I got one from Napa that is made by Gates and it lines up just perfect. Gates ones have a metal pulley. My mechanic says they run into this all the time, some cars line up better with Gates and some with Dayco. I got the Gates one from NAPA. Give it a shot if it doesn't line up any better, take it back, but it made a huge difference in mine. Don't quote me, but I believe this is the link to the NAPA part http://www.napaonline.com/masterpages/NOLMaster.aspx?PageId=470&LineCode=NBH&PartNumber=38142&Description=Drivebelt+Tensioner+Assy You should be able to see a difference from the one you have.
Here is a pic of mine.
View attachment 438374
Here is a pic of mine.
View attachment 438374
At a glance it looks like all they did was change the pulley, not the whole tensioner. That tensioner is shot! Take a look at the center of the tensioner (not the pulley, but directly above it) See how it's off center and cocked to one side? Glowstang is on the right track, the Dayco, and Goodyear tensioners are crap. I've tried both and about a month after installing them, the belt rides flush with the outermost edge of the pulley instead of on center. When I first put them in they were both fine. The tensioner he's got pictured looks stout and appears to be a better quality piece.
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