[Vwdiesel] Timing belt tensioner

[Patrick Dolan]

Iain:

At 40k miles on a 1.6TD tensioner, I would say the call depends on two things:  how long is it going to be before you are in there again?  and what was the quality of the tensioner installed (if known)?

1.6 tensioners usually last the life of the belt, but there could be some issues around being an aftermarket supply from, well, let's just say a WalMart-like-place.  I think over-tightening the belt is a bigger threat.

Personally:  the risk is significant and the cost is negligible, so I would replace the tensioner AND belt simply because I was there at the time.

Pat
----- Original Message -----
From: mark shepherd <mark at shepher.fsnet.co.uk>
Date: Wednesday, December 10, 2008 8:55 pm
Subject: Re: [Vwdiesel] Timing belt tensioner

> I've had Quantums for the last 15 years. Never in all 7 of them 
> have I seen 
> a seized tensioner. Maybe its because dustlevels are low here. 
> Maybe its 
> because  I never run a vehicle with the plastic/ metal belt covers 
> off. 
> Always check it though.  Maybe factory issue is better than 
> replacements...A 
> bit like thrust bearings in clutches IMO....And clutch plates and 
> subframe 
> bushes come to think of it! Some like to replace the water pump as 
> part of 
> the service. I cant remember how many I've replaced on these vw's 
> but I can 
> only remember one. Lots of water hoses and 4 or 5 radiators...
> Of the 4 that are now dead, 2 went rusty, one I wrote off in an 
> accident and 
> one , the GL5, I dumped on the basis that it was uneconomic, and I 
> had a 
> reserve second one at the time [my first TD]. I did take some 
> spares off it, 
> but not nearly as many as I should have 8~?
> 
> Mark
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Erik Lane" <eriklane at gmail.com>
> To: "vw fans" <Vwdiesel at vwfans.com>
> Sent: Thursday, December 11, 2008 2:31 AM
> Subject: Re: [Vwdiesel] Timing belt tensioner
> 
> 
> >
> > I replace my tensioner EVERY time. I didn't used to, but one 
> time a
> > tensioner that felt good and seemed fine in every regard failed soon
> > after a new timing belt was put on. This was at highway speeds 
> and the
> > engine chewed itself up. I don't even hesitate to replace them 
> as a
> > set these days. How many times do you have to skip replacing it 
> before> it's saved the price of an engine? Like I said, it's not 
> even a
> > question for me. But you go ahead and do as you like. :)
> >
> > On Wed, Dec 10, 2008 at 3:34 PM, mark shepherd 
> <mark at shepher.fsnet.co.uk> 
> > wrote:
> >> Slacken off tensioner, and spin tensioner. I don't think belt 
> can jump
> >> whilst on all sprockets...
> >> Mark
> >> ----- Original Message -----
> >> From: "Iain Hunter" <sagspottery at tiscali.co.uk>
> >> To: "VWfans" <vwdiesel at vwfans.com>
> >> Sent: Wednesday, December 10, 2008 11:23 PM
> >> Subject: [Vwdiesel] Timing belt tensioner
> >>
> >>
> >>>
> >>> Hello.
> >>>
> >>> In removing the pump for inspection/ repair/ rebuild, I am 
> have decided 
> >>> to
> >>> replace the timing belt, while everything is off. The last 
> time it was
> >>> done was about 40,000 miles ago. Do you think it will need a belt
> >>> tensioner also, as it had one last time?
> >>>
> >>> Cheers.
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> Iain. (vanagon 1.6td)
> >>> _______________________________________________
> >>> Vwdiesel mailing list
> >>> Vwdiesel at vwfans.com
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> >>>
> >>>
> >>
> >>
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> > 
> 
> 
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