When I put everything back together, I replaced the serpentine belt cuz it was about three ridges too narrow

Anyway, once it was all back on I found out why. Looking up from underneath at the belt tensioner, its wheel was sitting about 1/8th of an inch back (towards the engine) then it should be. In other words it was about an 1/8 inch out of line with the rest of the pulleys. I took the tensioner off and there's a groove where the old belt had worn into the tensioner's arm. For a quick fix, I put one big washer between the tensioner and the engine to move the tensioner's wheel forward away from the engine, but the new belt is still kissing the arm, and I can't do anymore spacers cuz then the little stud on the tensioner won't engage.

Anybody else have this problem? Is there some adjustment I'm not aware of, or am I gonna have to get a new tensioner?

Thanks!

Ed

 

Sounds like a new part some where , with the belt off spin all that the belt rides , looking for a stiff / ruff bearing , some times one part can make the belt push against an other , making you think the other is the bad part .
Could be a bearing seated off center , some times the balancer will start to move on rubber , try to get in a position to see that all that contact belt are lines up .

 

You're gonna have to get a new tensioner assembly.

Sorry.

 

Yep, it sounds like a simple matter of replacing the tensioner. The spot where it pivots will wear until the pulley is not square to the others. That will tend to push the belt off, regardless of how much you space the tensioner out. The pulley will still be acting as a "ramp."

 

Dayco 89219 just got one today.

$80 and $30 for a belt.

 

Be careful of what you get. I know most folks are NAPA fans, but I had this same thing happen, got one ordered from NAPA, cost 130 bucks, and it was made in China. It was crap, had a crack in the casting arm. I sent it back and went down the road to Advance, who had one in stock for $72, and guess what, it was a Dayco, same as what comes on it. I bought it and never had a bit more trouble.
Piece of cake to put on.

 

Thanks for the help folks! I was afraid I'd have to get a new one...oh well the trucks got 270K+ on it and still runnin good so I guess I can't complain. Thanks for the heads up on Napa tensioners eng208, I'll make sure to make sure its a Dayco!!

Ed