BELT TENSIONERS
DESCRIPTION
CAUTION: Do not attempt to check belt tension with
a belt tension gauge on vehicles equipped with an
automatic belt tensioner.
Drive belts on all engines are equipped with a
spring loaded automatic belt tensioner. This ten-
sioner maintains constant belt tension at all times
and requires no maintenance or adjustment.
OPERATION
WARNING: THE AUTOMATIC BELT TENSIONER
ASSEMBLY IS SPRING LOADED. DO NOT ATTEMPT
TO DISASSEMBLE THE TENSIONER ASSEMBLY.
The automatic belt tensioner maintains correct belt
tension using a coiled spring within the tensioner
housing. The spring applies pressure to the tensioner
arm pressing the arm into the belt, tensioning the
belt.
If a new belt is being installed, the arrow must be
within approximately 3 mm (1/8 in.) of indexing
mark. Belt is considered new if it has been used 15
minutes or less. If this specification cannot be met,
check for:
• The wrong belt being installed (incorrect length/
width)
• Worn bearings on an engine accessory (A/C com-
pressor, power steering pump, water pump, idler pul-
ley or generator)
• A pulley on an engine accessory being loose
• Misalignment of an engine accessory
• Belt incorrectly routed.
Fig. 2 ACCESSORY BELT ROUTING
1 - VISCOUS HEATER
2 - POWER STEERING PUMP
3 - AC COMPRESSOR
4 - AUTOMATIC BELT TENSIONER
5 - VIBRATION DAMPER/CRANKSHAFT PULLEY
6 - WATER PUMP PULLEY
7 - GENERATOR
8 - IDLER PULLEYS
7a - 8 ACCESSORY DRIVE WG
DRIVE BELTS (Continued)