[s-cars] serpentine belt tensioner 054 903 133A

[Tom Green]

Steve,

Those are correct parts.  I should have been careful to say some parts  
are
interchangeable;  many are not.  Knowing which is the problem;  the  
control
arms are the same as are the tie rods and ends.  I should have looked  
that
over again before responding.  What I should have said is some of the  
listings
show the same part for the left and right side - those are incorrect  
parts.
The bottom line is you really have to know what you want to order from  
places
like Rockauto.

None of this can resolve the issue of genuine audi parts or  
aftermarket and
which brand other than some experience - hopefully the bad experience  
can
come from someone else.  But with things changing so fast in the parts
manufacturing, that information is changing with it, so many of the  
older
recommendations are no longer valid.  I think TRW is still a good bet.

The pulley uses a 6203 bearing - a common size.  It is riveted in  
place though,
inside the pulley halves, which is a little issue.  You should be able  
to tell if it
operates smoothly or if it could be the problem.  You are correct that  
the
tensioner must operate smoothly to be reliable, but it could be one of  
the
accessories causing the erratic tension.  I bought my NTN 6203LLBC3/L627
bearings from BDI.  They have a local outlet here.  I picked it  
because it was a
high speed bearing of the correct size.  Dave Forgie has some  
information  on
Quattroworld in his information that is contained in the engine and  
car diagrams.
I bought rivets from McMaster-Carr and have access to a shop and  
bucked my
own new rivets.
HTH

Tom

On Feb 12, 2010, at 8:45 PM, Steve Marinello wrote:

> I found a source, on ebay no less, that has old stock, German made TRW
> assemblies...at $60 + $40 shipping each side.  He has the correct  
> numbers
> for each side (4A0419801/2A), although he also has them listed as  
> good for
> the V6, which seems inconsistent with what you have said, but
> genuinevwaudipart.com, which doesn't have any in stock, also lists  
> them as
> being for the '95-'97 A6.  The Moog pieces are about $70 with  
> shipping from
> Rock Auto and Meyle is about the same from Autohausaz.
>
> My mechanic repacked the belt tensioner when he was doing the timing  
> belt,
> as it was "dry", but now it rattles at some revs before it warms up,  
> or it
> makes a real racket on a cold morning like we've had lately in
> Houston...cold being relative; mid 30's.  I was already wondering  
> about
> replacing the bearing when you successfully pointed me in the  
> direction of
> the $200+ correct unit, but I haven't found anything yet about  
> sourcing a
> replacement bearing.  I figured I would be on to the bearing shop to  
> see
> what could be done.  If the car is going to be down for rack and tie  
> rods,
> it wouldn't likely be more than a day to resolve the bearing, if it's
> doable.  You sound like you've done this before, or thought about it.
>
> Steve
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Thomas R Green [mailto:trgreen at comcast.net]
> Sent: Friday, February 12, 2010 6:43 PM
> To: Steve Marinello
> Cc: 's-car-list'
> Subject: Re: [s-cars] serpentine belt tensioner 054 903 133A
>
> Steve,
>
> I would prefer TRW suspension parts but I don't know where to buy them
> at
> a reasonable price.  I see little special about the Febi parts anymore
> for the
> alternative.  I have heard nothing bad about Moog;  I just think of
> them as an
> American car supplier.  Tie rod ends are pretty easy to keep up with
> so I say
> give them a try.  The S6 tie rods and ends are specific  to the side,
> so if the
> listing tries to sell the same thing for both sides, it's a pretty
> good hint that
> they are selling A6 parts.
>
> What is wrong with your belt tensioner?  If the frame and the spring
> portion
> appear good as southern cars usually do, but the bearing is bad, I  
> would
> be interested in buying it to change the roller bearing.
>
> Tom
>
> On Feb 12, 2010, at 7:19 PM, Steve Marinello wrote:
>
>> Tom,
>>
>> Must have missed or forgotten about the emails you mentioned.  Both
>> Rock
>> Auto and Beltsandhoses have the listing for the AAN engine, but
>> checking
>> against the A6q, it is the same p/n.  But, when I check
>> genuinevwaudiparts.com, it didn't return a part for me...until I
>> removed the
>> spaces.  And I had just sat down to order it and decided to check my
>> email
>> first.  Saved again?
>>
>> What do you think of Moog tie rod assemblies at this point in time?
>> Again,
>> great prices at Rock Auto and WOrldpac, which makes me wonder if
>> they have
>> finally gone offshore.  Always have depended on Moog, and my
>> mechanic says
>> he's good with them.
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Steve
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Tom Green [mailto:trgreen at comcast.net]
>> Sent: Friday, February 12, 2010 3:50 PM
>> To: s-car-list; smarinello at entouch.net
>> Subject: Re: [s-cars] serpentine belt tensioner 054 903 133A
>>
>> If the photos are accurate, they are showing an A6 part, regardless  
>> of
>> the
>> reference part #.  No way to make it fit.
>>
>> The price also says wrong part.  No one is selling the correct part  
>> at
>> that
>> price.
>>
>> The part is $204.48 at genuinevwaudiparts.com.  This has been the
>> subject
>> of many emails in the recent past.  Shipping is about $7.50.
>>
>> Any lister find a better total price anywhere?
>>
>> Tom
>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> Date: Thu, 11 Feb 2010 21:03:11 -0600
>>> From: "Steve Marinello" <smarinello at entouch.net>
>>> Subject: [s-cars] serpentine belt tensioner 054 903 133A
>>> To: <s-car-list at audifans.com>
>>> Message-ID: <64FEE8B7A10E457CA5710E3F0662E46E at GT5674>
>>> Content-Type: text/plain;	charset="us-ascii"
>>>
>>> Well, the only place I can find the Audi part, it's $270.  Rock Auto
>>> has a
>>> few sources, including Goodyear, for under $70, and beltsnhoses.com
>>> has a
>>> Gates tensioner for about $69 w/ free shipping. Anyone have any
>>> experience
>>> with these things with various brands?
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Thanks,
>>>
>>> Steve
>>
>>
>
>