Belt tensioner $&!@

[CieraSL92]

156k 92 Ciera 4t60 3300 V6

Okay guys. Belt tensioners about to go after about a year of ignoring it. It keeps tension, but it clicks like a mofo at idle. And teh tension is getting noticably weaker. I am positive this is the issue, no timing chain probs.

I don't have my haynes, But i'm at a loss. I've unbolted the power steering pump and it looks like i'll need to completely remove it? (Wrench sizes for lines would be great)

I kinda need a step by step here guys. If you could find a picture of the tensioner, I can't find all the damn bolts. There's like, 50 down below, and two up top. Plus the power steering bolts, but thats set.

This isn't a typical tensioner, its not a one bolt type it looks like. It appears that it also functions as the power steering bracket.

Thanks for ANY input guys!

[LordDurock]

let me frist say i never dont this job. but i just went an looked at the motor in a 89 skylark.

so to my best geuss

remove the power streeing pump form the bracket. buy rottating the pully (you'll need the take the belt off) tell on of the holes lines up with bolt.

then take the bracket off. (be causius it looks like part of your cooling system is hooked though it bracket...........but i dont know for sure)

with the bracket off unbolt you tenstioner.

good luck.

[LordDurock]

oh and get a turkey baster (yes i said that) but not the one you mom/wife/gf uses. use it to suck out the power streeing fuild. yea the baster i great tool so if you dont have one abuy one.

[CieraSL92]

When it rains it pours I guess.

My radiator was leaking yesterday too, I didn't mention it since I had done it before. I replaced it, then today the water pump is pissing coolant. Lovely! Got that out of the way, and in the process got a good look at the tensioner.

I can see the bolts that hold it in. The bracket that holds the power steering is the tensioner too. Who's the moronic bastard that designed it that way? Now I have to play ($&# around with the power steering lines.

Luckily, the pipe your talking about is for the heater, and is only behind the tensioner, doesn't touch it.

I'll deal with this tomorrow.

Thanks lordurock

[LordDurock]

your wellcome glad i had a 3300 on hand

[Pontiac6ksteawd]

HOLD ON A SECOND BEFOR YOU START ON THE TENSIONER!!

The 90* motors are known to have issues with the harmonic balancer. Take your belt off the car, and see if you can move the harmonic in any direction by hand. If it moves, its bad.

The tensioner is a pain to get off. Power steering pump has to come off, alternator has to come off, water pump pulley, I am sure I am forgetting something, but that should get you started..

[Tuddi]

The 90* motors are known to have issues with the harmonic balancer. Take your belt off the car, and see if you can move the harmonic in any direction by hand. If it moves, its bad.

Hi there.

I know for a fact that my harmonic balancer is bad... the plastic ring in it is cracked and the outer metal moves if one wants it to (when it's off the engine).

Which problems can I expect with it being bad? ... apart from not being able to set the ignition correct of course... (carbed mechanical ignition model I have).

I have looked for a new harmonic balancer here in Peru, and found only one, but it's from an old engine, and it's priced higher than a new one... so I'll be buying it new from the US.

[dcjredline]

Sorry to go off topic BUT

I didnt know you were from Peru!?

I went there in 1994 while I was in the USMC and LOVED IT! What a beautiful country. And THE WOMEN!! OH MY GOD. Even more beautiful. I went all the way around South America and NOT EVEN Brazil compared to the women there in Peru.

Carry on with the proper topic. Thanks.

[CieraSL92]

It's a good thing all you said was water pump pulley If you said water pump, which I just changed, I was going to have to go postal.

It rained today so no tensioner. Harmonic Balancer was replaced early this year for a similar noise. It's still good. I bought that new since I had heard about so much **** about 3300 HMB's being crap. I got a dorman to replace it. $134 from autozone.