VS tensioner arm alignment

[MattK]

My tensioner pulley is out of alignment , is there any way to correct this ?
Its running on the inside of the belt , [ towards engine ] with about 20% of the belt running of the pulley [ towards radiator ]
Looks like the tensioner arm is out of alignment ...

Is there a easy fix ?

Or do I need a new tensioner arm pulley assembly

[BowTie]

They are not adjustable.

If it looks knackered, out of tension range, you need a new one.

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

Sounds like the bearing has collapsed causing the pulley to run crooked. Take the belt off and see if you can move the pulley.

[MattK]

There is some movement in the pulley arm .. [ In and Out ]

The pulley itself , seems tight and solid

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

Maybe the tensioner itself has collapsed. Time for a new one then.

[MattK]

How hard would it be to DIY ... ?

Any instructions , somewhere ?

[hako]

You really should buy a workshop manual - Gregorys is about the best. If push comes to shove, pm me your Email address and I'll scan and send the page to you.

[MattK]

The last couple of years the VS has been relatively trouble free .. As I learn how to deal with it ...

I kept killing crank angle sensors , till I learned they were sensitive to temperature .. Dont let the engine get hot in warm weather [ if the thermo cuts in , its too hot and you can kill the crank sensor ]
So I run the air to keep the engine temp down [ cheaper than replacing crank sensors ]

Yeah , I might have to buy a workshop manual , cars getting long in the tooth , and I sense work will be needed ...
Last thing I replaced was the water pump .. [ Who ever designed this engine - needs a slap ]

[darcycammo]

You could do it in an hour with just the simple tools it's pretty easy to do

[MattK]

I will try and find some instructions on the net :

It has some strange cover on it : [ The arm ] I thought it might need a special tool ? Havent taken a super close look yet ..

Been busy being a mature aged student : Now that schools over , need to do some fixin

[darcycammo]

Nah no special tools just need some spanners and or sockets and a couple of screw drivers i would go out and make a video on it but i got rid of my VS the other day

[hako]

Just pm me your email address and I will scan the page for you as I suggested in post #7 .....no need to search in the web. There is no obligation - you'll find plenty of help on this forum.

[MattK]

Ok , so to remove :

Get the belt off , remove pulley [ To undo = clockwise I think ]

The tensioner arm , is that a cover on it ? So stick a screwdriver in there and pop it of ?????

And the the bolt nut comes out clock ? anti ? wise ... [ the threads might clue me if there visible ]




How hard is it to change passenger side air bag cover ?

Thanks guys

Email = old4570 at yahoo.com

[Brett_jjj]

If that above picture is of an ecotec V6 tensioner pulley etc, then the belt isnt even fitted properly.Thats probably why you are having problems with the tensioner and the belt alignment. Its supposed to go around the tensioner pulley,then down around the power steering pump pulley, then up around over the alternator pulley.
Edit: Heres a diagram of how the serpentine belt fits the ecotec engine .You need to get yourself a gregorys workshop manual.

[MattK]

Changed it ,, Runs more true now ...

But I think the belt is a little short .. Tensioner is all the way back , no more play , with help I was just able to slip the belt in place ...

Is that normal ? [ Must have taken the path of least resistance in the past ] ..

Thank you ...



Now that sun warped Airbag cover ? How do I change that ?

[BowTie]

OMG. No way.

Next time, use a breaker bar with a 15mm to turn the tensioner bearing bolt anti-clockwise to preload the tensioner and allow the belt to slip on easily.

Now have a look at the front of the tensioner and make sure the indicator mark is within the suggested range of movement.

As for the airbag, i can't help there as i'm laughing to much.

[MattK]

Use a spanner to pre load , or push down tensioner all the way till it stops ...

There is no more movement left , belt only just slips on and thats with some one else holding the tensioner down ...
So its supposedly a VS belt but , seems a bits short ,,

Probably why it was the other way , fits easier , and one person can fit the belt ..

And if mem serves , this belt was supplied/fitted by the Holden dealer in Oakleigh last time my crank sensor died ...

Funny , maybe ?

I may still need to replace the tensioner ...