Here is a list of average standalone tensioner pulley prices to get you started:
- Ford: $125-$156
- Chevrolet: $157-192
- Toyota: $105-$120
- Nissan Altima: $96-$112
- Honda: $135-$178
How much does it cost to replace a tensioner pulley?
Luckily, the average cost to replace a tensioner pulley is around $200 including parts and labor. As labor is usually less than the parts, you can save money by shopping for the most cost-effective service center in your area. You can also install the parts yourself and only pay for the parts which only range from $40 to $90 in most cases.
How long does it take to replace a belt tensioner?
It should only take about an hour of work for the replacement, but sometimes it can be more, which can drive up the labor costs, and that varies from one car to the next. What Is Belt Tensioner Replacement?
How much does it cost to replace pushrod tensioners?
The dealer sells a kit to do the replacement which includes the plate, new style oil pump, and hydrulic tensioners. Rather than remove the heads to get the push rods out they suggest adjustable push rods. Total cost estimated at $1400 out the door of the dealer. (includes labor) That's a close estimate even here in WV.
How much does a serpentine belt tensioner cost?
A serpentine belt tensioner will cost around $23 up to $199 depending on its type and brand. The actual tensioner pulley cost can start from $21 to $102 when purchasing it separately from the base. There are two types of tensioner pulley:
How much does it cost to replace tensioners?
The Average Cost to Replace your Car's Drive Belt Tensioner is Between $235 and $267, Depending on Whether You Go to the Mechanic or DIY.
Can you drive a car with a broken tensioner?
Driving with a bad belt tensioner is unsafe since the tensioner is meant to guarantee ample tension that powers accessories. Wear on the belt tensioner will eventually cause the belt to slip, generate loud noise, and also create an unsafe level of heat along the accessory pulleys.
What happens when a tensioner goes out?
A seized or loose drive belt tensioner can cause the belt to snap, which will disables those accessories and can cause problems such as overheating, a dead electrical system and battery, or a disabled AC system.
How much does it cost to replace a drive belt tensioner?
A belt tensioner replacement can cost anywhere between $140 to $400, depending on the parts needed (idler pulley, bearings, etc.) and the labor costs. Usually, labor costs around $70 to $80 when the replacement takes about an hour.
How long does it take to replace a belt tensioner?
Introduction. Automatic belt tensioners, standard in most cars now, make changing a serpentine belt a simple DIY repair. Follow the clear photos and step-by-step instructions and you'll be done in 15 minutes.
When should I replace my car tensioner?
You should expect to replace your belt tensioner in the 40,000-70,000 mile range. It is also customary to swap more than one part simultaneously, usually a worn-out pulley from other systems and even the serpentine belt itself.
What causes a belt tensioner to break?
The most common causes of timing belt tensioner failure include: Wear and tear: On a new mechanical timing belt tensioner system, the timing belt tensioner spring is wound tightly by two tension rods. Over time, the spring stretches out and loses its tension. As a result, the entire tensioner becomes too weak.
How much does it cost to replace tensioner pulley?
The Best in Auto Repair The average cost for drive belt tensioner replacement is between $241 and $281. Labor costs are estimated between $83 and $104 while parts are priced between $158 and $177. This range does not include taxes and fees, and does not factor in your specific vehicle or unique location.
What does a faulty tensioner sound like?
Symptom 1: Squealing, rattling, or chirping. When the tensioner or tensioner pulley fails, the loss of tension can cause the belt and pulleys to make high-pitched rattling or chirping noises. If the pulley bearing completely fails, it can also cause a squealing or even a grinding noise.
What problems can a bad tensioner cause?
Typical Symptoms of Tensioner Pulley Failure The engine belt may become slack or loose. This can cause the belt to squeal or squeak when the vehicle starts in the morning. There is a grinding noise coming from under the hood, especially when the engine is first started.
What are the signs of a bad belt tensioner?
Rust bleed and cracks. Appearance: Rust is bleeding between arm and base or dripping from the tensioner. ... Pulley bearing wear. ... Pulley wear. ... Tensioner assembly misalignment. ... Tensioner noise. ... Tensioner arm misalignment. ... Excessive tensioner arm oscillation. ... Binding or grinding tensioner arm movement.More items...
How long does it take to replace a tension pulley?
Replacing the idler tensioner is relatively easy and should not take more than an hour or two. The replacement parts cost will vary depending on the type of car.
How long do car drive belts last?
60,000 to 100,000 milesToday, most serpentine belts are expected to last anywhere from 60,000 to 100,000 miles. Some belts can last significantly longer than this, while others give out before 60,000 miles.
Should I replace belt tensioner?
There is no recommended timeframe in which to replace your tensioner, especially as the belt itself usually needs replacing before the tensioner does. However, you should inspect your tensioner each time you service your car to monitor its condition and replace it if necessary.
How many tensioners does a car have?
There are three main types of belt tensioners found in the replacement auto parts market. Each one works a little differently, but all ensure that your alternator and auxiliary pumps receive the power needed to keep your car or truck moving.
Can a bad tensioner cause loss of power?
If you don't replace your tensioner when it's worn, it can cause further damage to your power steering, alternator and air conditioning, all of which are powered by the drive belt.
How do you test a belt tensioner?
3:516:54How to Diagnose a Loose or Stuck Belt Tensioner on Your Car or TruckYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSimple way to test to see if yourself adjusting tensioner is working or not is to simply go aheadMoreSimple way to test to see if yourself adjusting tensioner is working or not is to simply go ahead and grab on to the belt. And give it a nice tug. If. You don't see the tensioner. Moving.
How long can a car run without serpentine belt?
between 20 to 90 minutesThere are a few variables involved in the answer, but it should be able to run between 20 to 90 minutes. If it is a hot summer day, your engine can overheat very quickly without the coolant being pumped through the radiator. In many modern cars, the engine light will illuminate once it exceeds a safe temperature.
What happens if tensioner pulley breaks?
When the tensioner or tensioner pulley fails, the loss of tension can cause the belt and pulleys to make high-pitched rattling or chirping noises. If the pulley bearing completely fails, it can also cause a squealing or even a grinding noise. Symptom 2: Knocking or slapping.
What happens when a belt tensioner fails?
If the belt tension is too low, the belt will slip causing noise, extremely high temperatures and premature belt wear, all of which can lead to the poor functioning of the belt-driven accessories. If the tension is too high, this will cause excessive wear to the belt-driven accessories.
How do you know when belt tensioner is bad?
One of the most common symptom of a bad or failing drive belt tensioner is noise from the belts or tensioner. If the tensioner is loose the belts may squeak or squeal, especially when the engine is first started.
Can a bad belt tensioner cause stalling?
Typically a damaged belt tensioner will not impact vehicle performance. It would cause the serpentine or drive belt to wear prematurely or to squeak - but not cause the acceleration issue.
What is a belt tensioner?
The belt tensioner holds the serpentine belt under tension; allowing it to grip the pulleys firmly enough to transmit the engine’s rotating force to the accessories.
How long should a belt tensioner last?
They don’t have a replacement interval but should be good for over 100,000 miles. Most are only replaced when they fail, but on an older engine, it’s not bad maintenance to replace the tensioner with the belt.
How many belt tensioners are there for each belt?
If an engine has more than one serpentine belt, if they are both conventional, there will be one belt tensioner for each belt. Older engines (and some newer ones) still used sliding adjustments on accessories to hold the belt under tension.
What happens when a pulley is a small variance?
Any small variance from perfect roundness in a driven pulley will change the size of the circuit of the running belt. This will be visible at the belt tensioner as a periodic oscillation following the variance and the engine’s rotation.
Where is the belt tensioner bolted?
Usually, the belt tensioner is bolted to the front of the engine block or timing cover , and the belt tension is maintained by a spring-loaded lever which has a pulley that engages the belt. While they are made with metals that are resistant to fatigue and heat, they still can gradually weaken with age and use.
Can a tensioner wear when it is off?
A small amount of this is normal but requires the tensioner to constantly work at its pivot point which can cause wear. With the belt off, wear can show up in the tensioner as looseness in the housing.
Can a serpentine belt tensioner wear out?
The pulley has a non-serviceable bearing and this can wear out. It’s fairly common during belt replacement to find that the serpentine belt tensioner bearing feels rough or dry; even if it didn’t make any notable noise during operation. It is then usually recommended to replace the tensioner as a preventative measure.
How much does it cost to replace a tensioner pulley?
While most people pay around $200 for a tensioner pulley replacement, your price will depend on the type of car you have and several other factors. For instance, more complicated pulley systems cost more than simpler ones.
How Much Does Tensioner Pulley Replacement Cost?
The spring-loaded tensioner pulley maintains the tension in your car’s engine belts. It lets the tensioner belt drive the crankshaft, allowing the various engine components to move smoothly and function properly.
How To Save Money on a Tensioner Pulley Replacement?
While it is on the low end for replacement car parts, the tensioner pulley is not cheap to replace. Depending on your car’s engine, replacing the part can be mildly challenging to something only an experienced technician with the right equipment can do.
How long does a tensioner pulley last?
Once installed, your new tensioner pulley should last for up to 60,000 to 1,00,000 miles.
What is a tensioner pulley?
The tensioner pulley is one of the more important parts of a motor engine, directly influencing the engine’s performance. This pulley drives the entire drive train, transferring the engine’s movements to the drive and serpentine belts.
What happens if you drive with an impaired tensioner pulley?
When driving with an impaired tensioner pulley, your car could break down at any moment. It could be tomorrow, your next ride, or a few months down the road.
How long does it take to adjust a non spring tensioner?
The entire process should take about one to two hours depending on the severity of the damage.
What is a drive belt tensioner?
The serpentine belt tensioner, or drive belt tensioner, provides tension to the drive belts to ensure the belts stay in contact with the crankshaft pulley and the pulley that belt is meant to drive.
How does a belt tensioner work?
It is bolted to the front of the engine, and the flat side of the drive or serpentine belt rests tightly against the belt tensioner pulley. When the belt is driven, the belt tensioner pulley constantly rotates, keeping tension on the belt.
What are the symptoms related to a bad drive belt tensioner?
If the drive belt tensioner fails, there will be a very audible chirping, grinding, or rattling noise from the front of the engine. This is because the tensioner pulley bearing is no longer smooth, and rotating causes metal to grind at high speeds. If it is not changed immediately, there is a chance it will become dislodged, or allow the drive belt to lose tension, or break. If the belt falls off, the accessory that it drives will no longer function. Also, if the tensioner spring fails, allowing slack in the belt, it may make an extremely loud squeaking or screeching noise combined with a rattle as the tensioner bounces back and forth under load. The squealing noise is the belt slipping on the crankshaft pulley, and will require belt replacement once the belt tensioner is replaced.
How often do drive belt tensioners need to be replaced?
However, the majority of vehicles will see a drive belt tensioner replaced before the 125,000 mile mark has been reached, with some replacements occurring as early as 50,000 miles.
Can I drive with a drive belt tensioner problem?
If the belt tensioner is totally destroyed, driving may be hazardous, or impossible. If the tensioner has just begun to chirp or rattle, the vehicle can usually be driven to a repair facility. Keep in mind that once the tensioner fails, the vehicle may only last a few short minutes before the engine stalls due to loss of electrical power from the alternator.
What is a Timing Belt Tensioner?
The timing belt tensioner, as the name implies, provides tension to the timing belt to ensure total contact between the teeth on the belt and the teeth on the camshaft and crankshaft timing gears. With the appropriate amount of tension from the belt tensioner, the belt and gears will remain aligned so the engine remains properly timed.
How often do Timing Belt Tensioners need replacement?
This means the average timing belt tensioner replacement occurs between 60,000 and 105,000 miles, depending on the manufacturer specified timing belt service interval.
What are the symptoms of a bad Timing Belt Tensioner?
If the timing belt tensioner fails, there will be a very audible chirping noise from the front of the engine. This is because the tensioner bearing is no longer smooth. If it is not changed immediately, the engine will being running roughly, or stall completely. As a worst-case scenario, internal engine damage may occur due to slippage or breakage of the timing belt. The check engine light will illuminate on the dashboard in the event of total failure, and OBD trouble codes for misfires, crankshaft position, and camshaft position will be stored.
How are Timing Belt Tensioner issues diagnosed?
Diagnosis of a failed or failing tensioner requires removal of many components, and hands on inspection of the timing belt tensioner. If the servicing technician finds the pulley is loose or damaged in any way, they will recommend immediate replacement of, at minimum, the timing belt and timing belt tensioner pulley.
What is the replacement of a timing belt?
At a minimum, replacement involves removal of the timing cover, timing belt tensioner, timing belt, and the timing belt pulley. The timing belt tensioner is typically attached by one bolt, but installation requires the proper amount of tension to be applied to the timing belt, and idler pulley retaining bolt. Once all components are replaced, the timing components can be installed onto the engine, and the engine will be tested for proper operation and timing before additional components are replaced.
Can I replace the Timing Belt Tensioner myself?
Since timing belt tensioner replacement necessitates the removal of timing components, it is not recommended for the DIYer to attempt this task. A thorough knowledge of internal engine components, engine timing, additional systems, and several specialty tools are required to properly perform this repair.
r44s Member
Can you give me the cost you paid for the replacement of the nylon cam chain tensioner at the dealer. I have an estimate for the repacement of the tensioners, new oil pump, new push rods and labor. Wondering what it cost you wherever you are located. Thanks in advanced
jaxdwg Active Member
If you are just going to replace the tensioner shoes, why does he want you to change out the pump too? If you are going to replace the pump, why not upgrade to the screaming eagle hydraulic cam/plate and oil pump assy? I think I paid 429.00 for the assembly that comes with new tensioners and oil pump.
The4opps1 Junior Member
I did my upgrade a few years ago. If memory serves, the parts to upgrade the tensioners to the hydraulic units, a TFI, and a Big Sucker air cleaner, and the necessary tools and fixtures ran me about $1300. I did the work myself. Probably $900 of that was for the tensioner upgrade.
BUBBIE Well-Known Member
Can you give me the cost you paid for the replacement of the nylon cam chain tensioner at the dealer. I have an estimate for the repacement of the tensioners, new oil pump, new push rods and labor. Wondering what it cost you wherever you are located. Thanks in advanced
HDDon Experienced Member Contributor Retired Moderators
Can you give me the cost you paid for the replacement of the nylon cam chain tensioner at the dealer. I have an estimate for the repacement of the tensioners, new oil pump, new push rods and labor. Wondering what it cost you wherever you are located. Thanks in advanced
r44s Member
The dealer sells a kit to do the replacement which includes the plate, new style oil pump, and hydrulic tensioners. Rather than remove the heads to get the push rods out they suggest adjustable push rods. Total cost estimated at $1400 out the door of the dealer. (includes labor)
driver54 Member
That's a close estimate even here in WV. The oil pump is just an included benefit with the cam plate kit. Go for it if you don't feel comfortable doing it yourself. I had a quote of 2000.00 for this upgrade and the 95" kit installed with new cams.
