Technical Aux belt tensioner

[Edgie70]

Hi everyone, my daughter has a 1.2 auto fiat 500 2019 18,000 miles , we get occasional squealing from the aux belt , I've tested the battery , battery is showing a bit low , possibly from being stood on the forecourt ( bought 6 months ago ) or the fact the belt squeals , belt mainly squeals when the a/c is on causing extra load , I'm thinking of getting the tensioner changed, has anyone changed a tensioner for the aux belt ?? Thanks

 

[puntodeltathema]

I'm guessing the car has A/C given its relative youth and therefore it will have an auto belt tensioner. (If no A/C the tension adjustment is manual).

Access to the auto tensioner can be awkward (very close to the chassis leg) especially if the fastener holding the tensioner on (in the centre of the round springed pivot) is an allen-type recessed one (you might need to cut down an allen key or something more ingenious). Some tensioners have conventional boltheads though, which are somewhat easier as you can get a spanner on it (though you might need something to extend it with to get adequate torque). But it's all a bit tight...

 

[Edgie70]

Hi , thanks for your reply, yes it has a/c , I presume the bolt still comes out without hitting the chassis leg ? Although I have seen some tensioners come with the fixing bolt in the hole already

 

[John202020]

Try a new belt first, and, tell her to never switch the ac off! And new cabin filter.

 

[puntodeltathema]

Good advice from John - plus you can get a sense of whether the tensioner is duff by trying to detension it (spanner on the bolt through the centre of the pulley) and seeing if it feels seized or stiff.