318ti.org forum - View Single Post - Mechanical Belt Tensioner

bazar01 · 09-18-2016, 03:58 PM

My Gates tensioner came in.
It has the torx head bolt as opposed to the 15mm hex head.
I decided to tackle this today.
As soon as I relieved the tensioner, it made a metallic chirp every time I swing it out.
I believe the mechanical tensioner is the culprit.

Since the tensioner sits in a cavity, its going to be difficult getting it out with the power steering pulley on.
So the pulley has to come off. It has 3 x 13mm hex head cap screws.
They have to be loosened while the belt is still on the tensioner.

Wow, the metallic chirp is gone. It is so quiet now.

09-18-2016, 03:58 PM	#12
bazar01 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Georgia Posts: 595 iTrader: (0) Photo Gallery	My Gates tensioner came in. It has the torx head bolt as opposed to the 15mm hex head. I decided to tackle this today. As soon as I relieved the tensioner, it made a metallic chirp every time I swing it out. I believe the mechanical tensioner is the culprit. Since the tensioner sits in a cavity, its going to be difficult getting it out with the power steering pulley on. So the pulley has to come off. It has 3 x 13mm hex head cap screws. They have to be loosened while the belt is still on the tensioner. Wow, the metallic chirp is gone. It is so quiet now. __________________ 1996 Ti 280k miles and still going.... 1993 964 - holding on to this one 2001 Burban, 240k miles 2018 Suburban Z71 Last edited by bazar01; 07-10-2017 at 01:43 PM.