belt tensioner??

luckyducky199 · 10-28-2009, 10:42 PM

where is the belt tensioner?
my other thread was getting no where.
i just need to know what the pulley does and what to expect from the shop.

bobditts · 10-28-2009, 10:57 PM

um, as far as I know, the only belt tensioner on a 2.8L is the alternator.

luckyducky199 · 10-28-2009, 11:00 PM

so what is the pulley right below the alt. ?

luckyducky199 · 10-28-2009, 11:05 PM

that one.

bobditts · 10-29-2009, 12:02 AM

looks like an idler pulley to me. your alternator should be on a bracket and should be what applies more or less tension on the belt.

bobditts · 10-29-2009, 12:05 AM

what year 2.8L is that? It looks a bit different than mine.

AHH AIR · 10-29-2009, 01:21 AM

that is ur tensioner its a 16 or 17 mm socket and a breaker bar to move it

93v6banger · 10-29-2009, 02:45 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by AHH AIR

that is ur tensioner its a 16 or 17 mm socket and a breaker bar to move it

yep

CarolinaHawk · 10-29-2009, 06:58 AM

yep mine is squeaking and will be replaced next weekend.

luckyducky199 · 10-29-2009, 07:43 AM

mine is a 1992 . mine doesn't squeak or squeal mine just moves and jumps. the truck idles great then all of a sudden that pulley will actually move back and forth. how hard is it to replace the idler pulley?

AHH AIR · 10-29-2009, 09:41 AM

take the belt off and then take a torx 55 socket and take the only bolt out that holds it on. its that simple

neo71665 · 10-29-2009, 03:56 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by bobditts

what year 2.8L is that? It looks a bit different than mine.

I'm guessing you have a pre 86 truck (or engine) with vee belts cause that is indeed the belt tensioner on anything 87 or after.

Also when I had to replace my tensioner I had to take the AIR pump off. The damn pulley blocked me from just taking the tensioner alone off and easily replacing it.

luckyducky199 · 10-29-2009, 04:10 PM

whats the pulley attached to? i don't think the pulley is bad. i think what ever it is connected to is.

luckyducky199 · 10-29-2009, 04:11 PM

my truck is a 1992 2.8 5speed. s10 tahoe

luckyducky199 · 10-29-2009, 04:19 PM

could it be my alternator? cause now my truck wont even start.

bobditts · 10-29-2009, 04:21 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by neo71665

I'm guessing you have a pre 86 truck (or engine) with vee belts cause that is indeed the belt tensioner on anything 87 or after.

it isnt pre 86. . . it IS an 86 lol. Yes I have the V belts. Gotta love them!

neo71665 · 10-29-2009, 04:28 PM

Sorry meant 86 and before not pre but yeah I figured it. I hate vee belts.

The_Raven · 10-29-2009, 07:00 PM

The tensioner is supposed to "bounce" when the engine is running.

It is a spring loaded tensioner, that will take up the slack of the belt then take up the stretch of the belt from each firing event.

The crankshaft on an engine will actually change speed even at a "steady RPM". As each cylinder fires, the crank will accelerate just a little bit, then slow slightly until teh next cylinder fires. This stretches the belt each time the cylinder fires. It is this stretching (and relaxing) that you are seeing with the tensioner "bouncing" like you do.

luckyducky199 · 10-29-2009, 07:23 PM

no the tensioner was actually like clunking. the truck would idle then it would start clunkinging and then the tensioner would move and jerk. and now i won't even start. what should i do????
could the starter have caused all this or the alternator?
I just want my truck to run again!!!!!!!!!

ohhh and when ever it would clunk the engine would slow down and almost stall.

The_Raven · 10-29-2009, 08:33 PM

That's not the tensioner doing that.

If you feel it's a belt driven item causing the problem, remove the belt and start the truck. Just don't run it for very long, minute or two at a time would be fine though.

An bad alternator would not keep the truck from starting, unless it was seized solid and even then, I have not seen personally an engine not turn over.

Does the engine turn over and not fire, or does it not turn over?

luckyducky199 · 10-29-2009, 09:06 PM

the engine doesn't turn over. i started it two days ago and it made the same clunking noise and i shut down. now i went out and tried to start it today and all it was nothing. i tried a couple of times and then stopped in fear that the engine seized completely. but now that i think of it that is crazy because it didn't jump timing it didn't knock or clank or do anything it has oil which is clean. my only hopes is that it the alternator that is seized. it was making noises before from the alternator. kinda like a whining. could the starter be bad?

neo71665 · 10-29-2009, 09:12 PM

sounds like I would start with the starter.

luckyducky199 · 10-29-2009, 09:25 PM

Where is the starter?

I kinda expected to have wait a little long to have to shell out cash considering the truck just turned 80,000mi

that f@#$ing kid i bought from probably f#%$ing lied about everything.

bobditts · 10-29-2009, 09:54 PM

the starter is on the under side of the engine, passenger side

luckyducky199 · 10-30-2009, 07:40 PM

would a 4.3 pulley work as replacement.

ddog800 · 10-31-2009, 02:33 PM

Hmm, not sure about that, they look a bit different and not sure if it would transfer over.

2.8 Belt Tensioner

4.3 Belt Tensioner

Anyone know for sure?

luckyducky199 · 10-31-2009, 04:21 PM

I am getting a 4.3 pulley for free. if it works it works. if it doesn't i'll sell it.

how hard is it the replace the starter?

bobditts · 10-31-2009, 05:39 PM

I replaced mine with the engine out. It was easy. With all the crap still in there, it might be a bight of a fight, but its doable. Do you have a haynes or chiltons? if not, get one. They are worth it.

Corrupt · 10-31-2009, 06:17 PM

Have you removed the belt and started it up just to see if it makes the clunking noise?

luckyducky199 · 10-31-2009, 06:58 PM

will it run with out the belt on?

neo71665 · 11-01-2009, 08:38 PM

luckyducky199 · 11-02-2009, 08:06 PM

i thought the belt kept timing. so if i just take the belt off the pulley the truck will still run and wont jump timing and explode.
are the 2.8 interference motors?

luckyducky199 · 11-02-2009, 08:17 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by bobditts

I replaced mine with the engine out. It was easy. With all the crap still in there, it might be a bight of a fight, but its doable. Do you have a haynes or chiltons? if not, get one. They are worth it.

I bought a haynes. I have to buy some tools but i am gonna try swapping it while its still in the truck.

neo71665 · 11-02-2009, 08:17 PM

The timing chain keeps timing, the 2 main things the belts gonna do is run the water pump to keep it cool and the alt to keep the battery charged. Its fine to crank it up for a bit without the belt you just don't wanna leave it running for long periods of time or it'll overheat.

luckyducky199 · 11-02-2009, 08:40 PM

ohhhh i am such a newb when it comes to this type of stuff. so what would cause my engine to not even want to turn over. the Starter? or could the alternator be seized? thank you so much for the help. ill have to take the belt off tomorrow and see what it does.

neo71665 · 11-02-2009, 09:28 PM

I'm gonna bet the engine not turning over is the starter. If the alt was froze up as long as the battery is still charged it should crank just squeal like nobody's business.

10-28-2009, 10:42 PM	#1
luckyducky199 Registered User Age: 17 Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 68 Location: User is: OffLine	belt tensioner?? where is the belt tensioner? my other thread was getting no where. i just need to know what the pulley does and what to expect from the shop.
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10-28-2009, 10:57 PM	#2
bobditts banned Age: 25 Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 946 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: belt tensioner?? um, as far as I know, the only belt tensioner on a 2.8L is the alternator.
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10-28-2009, 11:00 PM	#3
luckyducky199 Registered User Age: 17 Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 68 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: belt tensioner?? so what is the pulley right below the alt. ?
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10-28-2009, 11:05 PM	#4
luckyducky199 Registered User Age: 17 Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 68 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: belt tensioner?? that one.
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10-29-2009, 12:02 AM	#5
bobditts banned Age: 25 Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 946 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: belt tensioner?? looks like an idler pulley to me. your alternator should be on a bracket and should be what applies more or less tension on the belt.
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10-29-2009, 12:05 AM	#6
bobditts banned Age: 25 Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 946 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: belt tensioner?? what year 2.8L is that? It looks a bit different than mine.
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10-29-2009, 01:21 AM	#7
AHH AIR Subsonic Kustomz Age: 26 Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 319 Location: watervliet, mi User is: OffLine	Re: belt tensioner?? that is ur tensioner its a 16 or 17 mm socket and a breaker bar to move it
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10-29-2009, 02:45 AM	#8
93v6banger first car and proud Age: 16 Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 737 Location: Lebanon, IN User is: OffLine	Re: belt tensioner?? Quote: Originally Posted by AHH AIR that is ur tensioner its a 16 or 17 mm socket and a breaker bar to move it yep
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10-29-2009, 06:58 AM	#9
CarolinaHawk Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 62 Location: Kannapolis NC User is: OffLine	Re: belt tensioner?? yep mine is squeaking and will be replaced next weekend.
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10-29-2009, 07:43 AM	#10
luckyducky199 Registered User Age: 17 Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 68 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: belt tensioner?? mine is a 1992 . mine doesn't squeak or squeal mine just moves and jumps. the truck idles great then all of a sudden that pulley will actually move back and forth. how hard is it to replace the idler pulley?
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10-29-2009, 09:41 AM	#11
AHH AIR Subsonic Kustomz Age: 26 Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 319 Location: watervliet, mi User is: OffLine	Re: belt tensioner?? take the belt off and then take a torx 55 socket and take the only bolt out that holds it on. its that simple
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10-29-2009, 03:56 PM	#12
neo71665 4x4 v6 blazer Age: 29 Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 5,002 Location: rison arkansas User is: OffLine	Re: belt tensioner?? Quote: Originally Posted by bobditts what year 2.8L is that? It looks a bit different than mine. I'm guessing you have a pre 86 truck (or engine) with vee belts cause that is indeed the belt tensioner on anything 87 or after. Also when I had to replace my tensioner I had to take the AIR pump off. The damn pulley blocked me from just taking the tensioner alone off and easily replacing it.
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-29-2009, 04:10 PM	#13
luckyducky199 Registered User Age: 17 Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 68 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: belt tensioner?? whats the pulley attached to? i don't think the pulley is bad. i think what ever it is connected to is.
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10-29-2009, 04:11 PM	#14
luckyducky199 Registered User Age: 17 Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 68 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: belt tensioner?? my truck is a 1992 2.8 5speed. s10 tahoe
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10-29-2009, 04:19 PM	#15
luckyducky199 Registered User Age: 17 Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 68 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: belt tensioner?? could it be my alternator? cause now my truck wont even start.
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10-29-2009, 04:21 PM	#16
bobditts banned Age: 25 Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 946 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: belt tensioner?? Quote: Originally Posted by neo71665 I'm guessing you have a pre 86 truck (or engine) with vee belts cause that is indeed the belt tensioner on anything 87 or after. it isnt pre 86. . . it IS an 86 lol. Yes I have the V belts. Gotta love them!
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10-29-2009, 04:28 PM	#17
neo71665 4x4 v6 blazer Age: 29 Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 5,002 Location: rison arkansas User is: OffLine	Re: belt tensioner?? Sorry meant 86 and before not pre but yeah I figured it. I hate vee belts.
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10-29-2009, 07:00 PM	#18
The_Raven Registered User Age: 32 Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 1,039 Location: The Nest User is: OffLine	Re: belt tensioner?? The tensioner is supposed to "bounce" when the engine is running. It is a spring loaded tensioner, that will take up the slack of the belt then take up the stretch of the belt from each firing event. The crankshaft on an engine will actually change speed even at a "steady RPM". As each cylinder fires, the crank will accelerate just a little bit, then slow slightly until teh next cylinder fires. This stretches the belt each time the cylinder fires. It is this stretching (and relaxing) that you are seeing with the tensioner "bouncing" like you do.
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-29-2009, 07:23 PM	#19
luckyducky199 Registered User Age: 17 Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 68 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: belt tensioner?? no the tensioner was actually like clunking. the truck would idle then it would start clunkinging and then the tensioner would move and jerk. and now i won't even start. what should i do???? could the starter have caused all this or the alternator? I just want my truck to run again!!!!!!!!! ohhh and when ever it would clunk the engine would slow down and almost stall.
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-29-2009, 08:33 PM	#20
The_Raven Registered User Age: 32 Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 1,039 Location: The Nest User is: OffLine	Re: belt tensioner?? That's not the tensioner doing that. If you feel it's a belt driven item causing the problem, remove the belt and start the truck. Just don't run it for very long, minute or two at a time would be fine though. An bad alternator would not keep the truck from starting, unless it was seized solid and even then, I have not seen personally an engine not turn over. Does the engine turn over and not fire, or does it not turn over?
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10-29-2009, 09:06 PM	#21
luckyducky199 Registered User Age: 17 Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 68 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: belt tensioner?? the engine doesn't turn over. i started it two days ago and it made the same clunking noise and i shut down. now i went out and tried to start it today and all it was nothing. i tried a couple of times and then stopped in fear that the engine seized completely. but now that i think of it that is crazy because it didn't jump timing it didn't knock or clank or do anything it has oil which is clean. my only hopes is that it the alternator that is seized. it was making noises before from the alternator. kinda like a whining. could the starter be bad?
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10-29-2009, 09:12 PM	#22
neo71665 4x4 v6 blazer Age: 29 Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 5,002 Location: rison arkansas User is: OffLine	Re: belt tensioner?? sounds like I would start with the starter.
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10-29-2009, 09:25 PM	#23
luckyducky199 Registered User Age: 17 Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 68 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: belt tensioner?? Where is the starter? I kinda expected to have wait a little long to have to shell out cash considering the truck just turned 80,000mi that f@#$ing kid i bought from probably f#%$ing lied about everything.
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10-29-2009, 09:54 PM	#24
bobditts banned Age: 25 Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 946 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: belt tensioner?? the starter is on the under side of the engine, passenger side
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10-30-2009, 07:40 PM	#25
luckyducky199 Registered User Age: 17 Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 68 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: belt tensioner?? would a 4.3 pulley work as replacement.
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10-31-2009, 02:33 PM	#26
ddog800 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 45 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: belt tensioner?? Hmm, not sure about that, they look a bit different and not sure if it would transfer over. 2.8 Belt Tensioner 4.3 Belt Tensioner Anyone know for sure?
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10-31-2009, 04:21 PM	#27
luckyducky199 Registered User Age: 17 Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 68 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: belt tensioner?? I am getting a 4.3 pulley for free. if it works it works. if it doesn't i'll sell it. how hard is it the replace the starter?
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10-31-2009, 05:39 PM	#28
bobditts banned Age: 25 Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 946 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: belt tensioner?? I replaced mine with the engine out. It was easy. With all the crap still in there, it might be a bight of a fight, but its doable. Do you have a haynes or chiltons? if not, get one. They are worth it.
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-31-2009, 06:17 PM	#29
Corrupt Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 6 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: belt tensioner?? Have you removed the belt and started it up just to see if it makes the clunking noise?
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10-31-2009, 06:58 PM	#30
luckyducky199 Registered User Age: 17 Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 68 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: belt tensioner?? will it run with out the belt on?
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11-01-2009, 08:38 PM	#31
neo71665 4x4 v6 blazer Age: 29 Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 5,002 Location: rison arkansas User is: OffLine	Re: belt tensioner?? yes
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11-02-2009, 08:06 PM	#32
luckyducky199 Registered User Age: 17 Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 68 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: belt tensioner?? i thought the belt kept timing. so if i just take the belt off the pulley the truck will still run and wont jump timing and explode. are the 2.8 interference motors?
	[Reply w/Quote]

11-02-2009, 08:17 PM	#33
luckyducky199 Registered User Age: 17 Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 68 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: belt tensioner?? Quote: Originally Posted by bobditts I replaced mine with the engine out. It was easy. With all the crap still in there, it might be a bight of a fight, but its doable. Do you have a haynes or chiltons? if not, get one. They are worth it. I bought a haynes. I have to buy some tools but i am gonna try swapping it while its still in the truck.
	[Reply w/Quote]

11-02-2009, 08:17 PM	#34
neo71665 4x4 v6 blazer Age: 29 Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 5,002 Location: rison arkansas User is: OffLine	Re: belt tensioner?? The timing chain keeps timing, the 2 main things the belts gonna do is run the water pump to keep it cool and the alt to keep the battery charged. Its fine to crank it up for a bit without the belt you just don't wanna leave it running for long periods of time or it'll overheat.
	[Reply w/Quote]

11-02-2009, 08:40 PM	#35
luckyducky199 Registered User Age: 17 Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 68 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: belt tensioner?? ohhhh i am such a newb when it comes to this type of stuff. so what would cause my engine to not even want to turn over. the Starter? or could the alternator be seized? thank you so much for the help. ill have to take the belt off tomorrow and see what it does.
	[Reply w/Quote]