24 captured repliesDiscussion pagination complete · Source accounts, not a confirmed diagnosis
THIS DISCUSSION / SOURCE-DERIVED OVERVIEW
Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCHTensioner pulley came off
Leading reported evidence
Adjust belt
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
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0
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1
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Read evidence and context
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed · Original poster
I adjusted the belt to be centered but as soon as engine started a very small portion of belt hangs off edge of both pulley.
Leading evidence: 'Adjust belt' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, The most frequently discussed action is 'Adjust belt' (1 discussions). For that action, 0 discussions report a resolution and 0 report an unsuccessful attempt. No action has an explicit, attributable resolution report under the current rules. These are forum reports and suggestions, not a confirmed diagnosis.
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Suggestion
Its blocking the oil fill hole so nothing gets in the motor.
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Suggestion · Original poster
Might as well replace the belt with a continental even thought old one looked perfect.
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Suggestion
I had to use an impact wrench to get the old one off.
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24 eligible posts · 0 unverified posts · 1 discussions match the subject in their title or opening post.
Rennlist: 1 discussions
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Generation: 20261026T181445Z · outcome-qualification-6. Deterministic extraction; no AI model inference. How we use sources
2004 C4S manual 106k+ miles
My mother wanted to go for a drive with top
down and right before we would enter the highway I hear this unusual squealing then the power steering stopped. I was able to pull over and noticed the tensioner pulley was completely off the bolt resting at the bottom of the engine. Closer inspection showed that the ball bearing case had opened. Surprisingly the threaded bolt was intact and unstripped. The tensioner arm intact including the hole for the bolt was normal. Had the car towed three miles back home. I went ahead ordered from FCP a Sebro tensioner pulley to include a new upper and lower idler pulley. Might as well replace the belt with a continental even thought old one looked perfect.
My question is even if the bolt looks
perfectly fine should I replace it? Taking off the tensioner arm appears to be PITA.
You don't need to get the tensioner off. You can get the right angle arm off by removing the alternator and the oil fill tube. The new tensioner bearing will include a new bolt. By the way, what happened to you is exactly why the belt and all three roller pulleys need to be replaced at 60,000 miles. You wait for it to fail and it will leave you stranded someplace very inconvenient.
I hear you. bought it with 99k odo. It was on my to do list but never got around to it. at least it was not in the highway and not catastrophic.
by removing alternator and filler tube I can reach from the back with a crescent wrench?
No, that right angle arm is held in place with a small allen head bolt M6 in size. Reach to the back of the tensioner assembly, insert an M6 allen socket, remove that little bolt. Get back to the rear of the engine, pry the right angle arm straight back. Use a little force, it will pull back all the way. Remove that 15mm bolt or weld it to the back of the arm so it will not move again. Reverse the procedure.
Here are some pix of my engine out build. I just did this job. I got the entire pulley & belt kit from fcpeuro.com. if one is bad the others are not far behind. I think it will be challenging, but certainly not impossible, to do this with the power steering pump installed.
I wish you the best.
Its blocking the oil fill hole so nothing gets in the motor.
U can not get the tensioner past the ps pump with it in place. Its all pretty terible to do with the motor in the car.
If u can pull the arm only and just swap the bolt, stop there is my advice.
You can just pull the arm. See this bolt in the middle of the picture? Remove that bolt and the right angle arm slides off toward the back of the car. Keep prying. I have done it several times.
Well it�s done. Took longer than I expected. Damn alternator wound not budge. Replaced the tensioner bolt. Unexpectedly it required a 16mm wrench that I didn�t have instead of the 15mm. Of course I broke the oil filler tube in two places as I was reassembling everything back. Temporarily secured with electrical tape and zip ties without vacuum
leak. Ugh now I gotta replace it near future.
Is it normal for the belt to be slightly off the upper and tensioner pulley? I adjusted the belt to be centered but as soon as engine started a very small portion of belt hangs off edge of both pulley. Took it for a very spirited drive and belt stayed in place.
My alternator is also difficult to get in and out. All of that plastic on top of the engine is brittle. I'm replacing everything while my engine is out.
No, I don't think it's normal for the belt to be off. It should be in it's channels. Something is not straight somewhere. Pix would be helpful.
Best,
My car origionally had a tensioner pully that looked like it was a couple on mm off. It never affected the system. I think it was a plastic pully. When u got the new one from Autoatlanta it was metal and the belt centered on it. I think there is some variation in aftermarket parts and it doesnt seem to matter.
It this on the smooth pulley, or the grooved one?
The smooth one can have some play. I initially thought you meant the grooved one on the power steering pump.
Best,
Are those new plastic pulleys? If so i would spend the money and get the correct steel ones. As i ssid earlier they sometimes dont have the right offset even though the parts store says they fit.
I think the plastic are fine. For some reason they list the metal ones for automatics. The plastic are standard on all 997s.
I have an extra new plastic and an old metal one.
Here is a pic.
I would take the lower one off and compare it with the one you removed.
Also put a straight edge across them to see if you see any deviation.
That does not look correct to me. Just my opinion. I can't explain why, but the belt shouldn't be skewed like that. Good eye for catching that.
It is curious that with the top pulley breaking the lower units are skewed. Could the tensioner arm me bent? It's a pretty strong piece of steel. Or maybe the new pulley isn't installed straight? There is a lot of torque needed to get the new one on. I had to use an impact wrench to get the old one off. Yours volunteers to come off.
I just bought the Continental kit for my car. The new pulleys are indeed plastic. Maybe a new 997 upgrade?
