Is it safe to drive with a bad belt tensioner?
There are hydraulic and mechanical timing belt tensioners. The symptoms of a bad timing belt tensioner include an illuminated check engine light, engine performance problems, starting problems, and noises from the engine. Driving with a bad timing belt tensioner can damage the engine.
What happens if you don't replace belt tensioner?
Wear on the belt tensioner will eventually cause the belt to slip, generate loud noise, and also create an unsafe level of heat along the accessory pulleys. Furthermore, belt tensioner wear will also decrease accessory performance. This reduced performance will eventually lead to lasting accessory damage.
How long can I drive with a bad timing belt tensioner?
Well, you COULD drive it until the tensioner gets so bad that the belt either slips a few teeth or tears itself to bits. Either of these will cause your engine to lose critical valve timing. If you're lucky the result will only be bent or broken valves and severely damaged pistons.
What happens when your tensioner goes bad?
A bad tensioner will usually be accompanied by noise. This noise could be some type of squealing or rattling coming from the timing cover area. Also, when your timing belt is loose, it will cause some drivability issues usually under high load or high rpm.
How do I know if my belt tensioner needs replacing?
There is no recommended timeframe in which to replace your tensioner, especially as the belt itself usually needs replacing before the tensioner does. However, you should inspect your tensioner each time you service your car to monitor its condition and replace it if necessary.
How long can a belt tensioner last?
With most belt drives a faulty tensioner will always result in power loss as the belt slips. If tension is too high there will be extra friction and short belt life. If there is extra frictions in bearing on the system it will cause belt slippage and power loss as well.
Can a bad tensioner cause loss of power?
Yes it could last 200k miles! Would I trust it to last that long? No way, most will slip, snap or fail in another way before that. And in my understanding, most engines with timing belts are an interference design, a failure will severely damage the engine.
What are signs of a bad timing belt?
There's really no set mileage, if they all spin smooth with no noise or play you should be good. On the tensioner you also have to check for play in the bushing which would cause belt alignment issues.
Can a timing belt last 200 000 miles?
If the timing belt breaks, the engine will not be able to run. If it breaks while the engine is running it can result in serious problems, possibly causing irreversible damage to the pistons, cylinders heads and valves.
How often do you need to replace a belt tensioner?
If the timing belt tensioner isn't keeping the timing belt tight, the engine will go in and out of perfect timing. Some of the most common issues caused by tensioner failure include: Difficulty starting the engine. Sluggish acceleration.
Will a loose timing belt destroy my engine?
There will be a rattle sound from the engine as it slaps against chain guides, can also rub on case cover. I have see this in the trade. This will also happen if the tensioner goes bad.
Can a bad tensioner cause slow acceleration?
Engine vibrations are usually caused by an engine issue(s) or worn mounts. Now, if your talking about a camshaft drive belt (Timing Belt) tensioner, then yes…that will cause engine vibrations.
What does a bad timing chain tensioner sound like?
Absolutely you'll see it bouncing slightly. The reason is, the belt will stretch and contract slightly as the engine speeds up/slows down. The tensioner provides two different functions: Provides tension to keep the serpentine belt tight during operation.
Can a bad tensioner cause engine vibration?
We suggest technicians change a pulley whenever a timing belt or serpentine belt is changed and vice versa, but there are eight key warning signs to look out for when a pulley goes bad: Rock – Rock the pulley back and forth. There should be no movement or play from side to side.
Should a belt tensioner move at idle?
Overview: Fan belt replacement
Serpentine belt replacement is easy because today's automatic drive belt tensioners eliminate the need to loosen bolts or pry components into position for retensioning. Just rotate the tensioner, remove the old belt and install a new one.
Should I replace tensioner pulley?
Your belt tensioner may be bad if: You hear a lot of belt squeal upon startup or while your engine is running. If your tensioner arm moves excessively from side to side. Your belt seems unusually worn.
Is replacing a belt tensioner hard?
As we explained in this article, there is no good answer to how long can you drive with a bad timing chain. You should not plan any other journey before our auto repair technicians look at your engine and fix or replace the timing chain. If the chain fails in the middle of a busy expressway, your life may be at risk.
How do I know if my tensioner or pulley is bad?
Signs of a Bad Timing Chain
Misfiring, poor idle, and rough running could mean the chain has jumped a tooth and the timing is off.
Can a bad tensioner make noise?
The timing belt synchronises the movement of the pistons and engine valves. Wear and tear of the timing belt can affect this process, also affecting engine performance. In this case, you're likely to notice that your car struggles to switch gears or accelerate.
How long can you drive with a bad timing chain?
Will a timing belt last 10 years? Most manufacturers recommend replacing the cambelt every 60,000 to 100,000 miles or every 5-7 years, whichever comes first.
Is there a warning before a timing chain breaks?
Seven years is the maximum life of the timing belt recommended by most manufacturers. For example, the belt should be replaced even if the engine has only 30,000 miles but is seven years of age. More timing belts break due to age than mileage.
Does a bad timing belt affect acceleration?
The one thing that can help a belt or a chain is how you drive it. Short trips in town are a lot harder on it than extended trips on the highway. For timing chains, change your oil every 5k miles or once a year with full synthetic. For belts, replace them every 100k miles.
Can a timing belt last 10 years?
An idler pulley is a simple device used to keep tension on the accessory belt (also called the “serpentine belt”). An idler pulley is expected to wear over time, and eventually the pulley will fail. Replacement intervals for idler pulleys vary, but are usually within the 50,000 to 100,000 mile range.
Can a timing belt last 30 years?
Internal components in the tensioner can fail, causing stress on the belt and other accessory components. A tensioner is a relatively inexpensive part to replace, and can help protect other components such as the water pump, alternator, and A/C compressor from undue stress and premature failure.
How can I extend the life of my timing belt?
Noticeable Benefits of Replacing Your Timing Belt
Quieter engine operation. Better gas mileage. Improved engine performance. Reduced emissions.
What is the life of a tensioner pulley?
If the noise is caused by worn lifters, you may be able to quiet it down by using a thicker oil. If the noise is caused by other problems, such as worn camshaft bearings, then thicker oil will not help.
Can a belt tensioner fail?
Not a good idea……. The tensioner keep 'tension' on the timing chain, preventing it from coming off. If that tensioner breaks and the timing chain goes slack and it jumps off of the cams while running, the engine will likely be toast, which could have been avoided by replacing a $30–40.00 tensioner.
Does replacing a timing belt make a car run better?
Driving with a bad tensioner pulley is not recommended, as it can lead to serious issues with your vehicle's engine and accessory components.
Will thicker oil stop timing chain noise?
Power steering or your AC stops working: If the AC or power steering stops working, you likely have a broken serpentine belt or tensioner.
When should I replace my timing chain tensioner?
However, when the timing chain is loose, it may cause a vibration inside the motor and that will produce a rattling noise as the engine idles. Anytime you hear a rattle it means something is loose and needs to be fixed before it breaks.
Can a car run without timing chain tensioner?
If your vehicle has a bad belt tensioner, you should not drive it. A bad belt tensioner is reason enough to perform some DIY mechanical work on your own or consult with an experienced mechanic for assistance.
Is it bad to drive with a bad tensioner?
HOW LONG CAN YOU DRIVE WITH A BAD IDLER PULLEY? You can easily drive your vehicle for tens of thousands of kilometres with a bad idler pulley, until the engine components continue to function normally. But, if the engine belt slips then you may lose control of the vehicle while driving.
Can a bad belt tensioner cause power steering problems?
With most belt drives a faulty tensioner will always result in power loss as the belt slips. If tension is too high there will be extra friction and short belt life. If there is extra frictions in bearing on the system it will cause belt slippage and power loss as well.
Can a bad timing chain tensioner cause rough idle?
Our research has shown two main causes of belt noise:
The belt squeals because there is improper tension in the belt drive system. This is usually caused by a worn automatic tensioner, but other causes can include a contaminated belt (oil, belt dressing, etc.) or a belt that is too long or worn out.
How do I know if my belt tensioner needs replacing?
The type of sound you hear can be used to diagnose your problem. If you hear a chattering noise, it's most likely a pulley that's either too tight or too loose. If it sounds like squealing, your pulley might be seized up and overheating.
How do I know if my pulley is bad?
Can a timing chain last 300000 miles?
Can you drive with a loose belt tensioner?
Can a timing chain last 200 000 miles?
How long can I drive with a bad tensioner pulley?
Will a broken timing belt destroy my engine?
Can a bad tensioner cause loss of power?
Why is my belt tensioner making noise?
If you hear your car chirping or squealing, it could be from a worn belt or belt tensioner. Find out what belt tensioners are, what they do, and how to tell if yours is bad and is causing a chirping noise from the engine with these tips.
What kind of noise does a bad tensioner pulley make?
After the engine is turned off, the hub of the pulley (where the bearing is) may feel hot to the touch. If the belt is off the pulley, spin the pulley and listen for a rough sound from bearing and feel for any binding (it should spin quietly and smoothly) also look for side to side play in the pulley.