Auxillary drive belt tensioner has broken

**mumutley** · 16-12-2014,11:05 AM

Hi All,

I have a VW Polo 1.9SDI 2003

The auxillary drive belt tensioner has snapped but I can not see how to remove it?

Can anyone help me with a picture or instructions please

Thanks all

IMG_4781.jpg

**Doctle Odd** · 16-12-2014,12:39 PM

The bolt is a good bit towards the bell housing, you should be able to see it there

**RufusReject** · 17-12-2014,08:10 PM

Here is a picture of the bolt location, If you stick a socket on an extension in the hole (circled in red) you should be able to reach the bolt head. Can be quite fiddly to get the bolt out and watch your fingers on the edge of that hole as on mine they were pretty sharp.
Aux Tensioner Bolt Location.jpg

It may be worth checking your alternator pulley as this is a common cause of failure in the aux drive belt tensioner. To check the pulley you need to carefully stop the alternator itself from rotating (stick a screwdriver through one of the gaps to jam the cooling fins(Carefully!)) then gently try and turn the pulley, it should turn easily in one direction but not move at all in the other direction. If it will not turn in either direction or there is much resistance then it needs replacing (Not too expensive but a pain to get the alternator out). Also may be worth changing the belt too.

Hope this helps, sorry for dodgy photo was dark when I took it!

**GUEST 9999** · 21-12-2014,12:19 PM

Here's one I prepared earlier...

Drive belt tensioner replacement - Engine, Transmission and Exhaust - Club Polo Forum

Getting the old one out should be easy. Fitting the new one is a bit of a squeeze.

What I did is remove the wheel and inner cowling for side access, then refit the wheel so it could be put on ramps for access underneath.

Mine failed again after 12 months. I suspect the root cause as mentioned by RR above and as I've read before, is sticking alternator clutch. While idling you can hear it 'tweeting' like there's birds nesting in there.