has anyone have had problems with their belt tensioner making noise or breaking?


before I got my supercharger, actually the day before I got it, I brought the car into acura (where I got my S/C installed) and had them check out a funny noise from the engine, especially when the fans turned on for the heat or A/C. They said it was the belt tensioner so they replaced it. no more sound.

I got the Supercharger installed and was a happy camper. this was a year and a half ago.

again, a couple months ago I hear the same noise, but I shrug it off cause it's just a noise and wasn't very loud. last week the belt tensioner went ape sh*t and tossed the belt off the pulleys where it shredded by rubbing on the engine mount.

had the car towed to acura and again replaced the belt tensioner.


I'm wondering, has anyone experienced a problem with their belt tensioner?



and on another side note, both my axles were replaced by acura because of cv joint issues, my car is lowered, but only an inch and acura says that shouldn't be the reason. They just called me today saying they got a new drive shaft in for me today, I didn't order one, but maybe the tech saw something while they had my car their last week? I'm scheduled for tomorrow morning, so we'll see what's going on there.

Do I have a late lemon?

 

nope, the tensionsers can be damaged really easily. A slightly over-tight belt can damage it, I had my tensioner replaced, then floored the car on the way home and the noise came back, you have to drive it like its a new car after getting it. Also make sure there is not motor damage after the belt came flying off. You have a really good dealership, you have the car modded to hell and they still replace stuff, which dealership and service advisor?

 

The AC belt tensioner is a known failure part on the TL
My 01 made noise at 45k and finally at 80k the tensioner was really noisy and ready to depart the vehicle at any second. part $85, labor 1.5 local shop- tech bloodied hands- made the $ well spent IMO
Simple fix- they are automatic tensioners so its not a problem of too much pressure on the belt.
There can be pulley/belt/tensioner alignment issue, and I am just guessing here- with a supercharger you may run fast revs to limit now and then- that would encourage wear too

Thumbs up to your dealer. Many blow off ziners with dropped cars and cv issue.
Seems to be a gen3 prob with the axle and possibly trans output bearing.
You guys have worse trans probs than us~

 

I go to Acura of Lynnwood, their service and parts department has always treated me good there.

They are the ones that sold me the supercharger and also installed it.

When I bought the Comptech exhaust and Charger together he gave me the charger at nearly their cost. Well, I did know someone that was close to the parts manager.

The master tech that installed the supercharger has worked on my car for every warranty problem or just servicing.
I'd say they are the most mod friendly dealership in my area.

Outstanding service and friendly people. A+++ for Acura of Lynnwood

 

also, I was lucky when I caught the belt come off. I pulled into the drive through at my bank and heard a funny "thud thud" noise, i tapped the accelerator and it seemed to get faster. I reversed out of there and parked, open the hood and immediately noticed the belt coming off, so luckly no damage to engine, because there still was enough belt to keep it all the pulley's spinning.

 

Is it a slight rattleling sound? on or near idle rpm, after the engine is warmed up? specially during significant loading (electrical, a/c, and power steer)? Because I had the same problem...

At first, I had the dealer check it out. After the sencond time (when I pointed straight at it while it rattled and said, "what's wrong with that?"), they said the tensioner was bad and replaced it. The same day after repairs, it started making the same noise again, so I know it's not the tensioner....IT'S THE BELT!
The belt comptech recomends is GATORBACK 4060945. But it sits high in the top end of the spring of the auto tensioner. So when the belt gets broken in and gets warmed up, it streches a bit and bounces off the top end of the tensioner under loading, causing the rattleling noise.
I dropped the belt size down half an inch; 4060940. This one sits on the lower end of the allowable range of the tensioner spring, but still allowes for tensioner travel in both directions to let the tension remain the same. over 1000 miles later.....STILL NO RATTLE. Problem solved.

They're no way to tell if we shared the same problem, but it's worth a shot. A HIGHLY RECOMMENDED honda/ACURA mech here on SoCal suggested this to me after seeing it for himself, and it worked.

BTW, stay away from any other brand of belt; I tried MILEAGE MAKER and GATES, but the both start squealing like pigs after about 1K miles, or so. GATORBACK ALL THE WAY!

 

Sorry to revive an old thread, but my car has similar symptoms. Except I would characterize the noise as a "chirp" rather than a "rattle"----it sounds like a cricket on steroids.
Is this a belt tensioner or belt issue?
Second (and bigger) question, is this covered under Extended Warranty?
Thanks.

 

I thought the goodyear belt was a 4060840 and not a 4060940

 

please check out service bulletin tsb 08-031