auxillary belt tensioner

[neil mahoney]

hi,just wondering if anybody could give me any ideas, just replaced the tensioner and belt ,due to exesive rattling [vibration] on the tensioner, its just now the new tensioner seems to rattle on start up ,but fine when running, my question is should this tensioner be moving on start up or is it something else causeing this, all the pulleys seem to be fine. thanks in advance for any feedback

[WOT]

Check the freewheel pulley on your alternator. With the engine off (carefully) poke a flat screwdriver through the gaps in the alternator casing, where you can see the internal cooling fins (towards the pulley side of the alternator) and levering against them try to turn the alternator forwards.(clockwise) The whole internals should EASILY turn while the pulley and belt remain stationary. If they dont turn easily dont force them as youll break the casing. If its seized you just need a new alternator pulley.

EDIT: You only have a problem if your tensioner is rattling. Those tensioners always move around a bit.

[neil mahoney]

thanks for the reply,so would that cause the rattling on start up if the pulley is playing up?

[neil mahoney]

had a look at the alternator and your not able to move the inside around as there is aload of copper type wireing in the way, any other ideas has to why my new tensioner is rattleing on start up

[VAGMAN54]

pop the belt of and hold the pulley with one hand tightly the move it back and forth it should freewheel one way.....and im on about the alternator not anything else you may or may not grip tightly

[neil mahoney]

pop the belt of and hold the pulley with one hand tightly the move it back and forth it should freewheel one way.....and im on about the alternator not anything else you may or may not grip tightly

so if this is playing up would this cause the tensioner to rattle, and can u just change the pulley, im just peefed off because spent £50 on belt and tensioner and the rattle is still there, but mainly on start up, thanks again for any feed back

[VAGMAN54]

yes it would and yes you can