mystery silver thingy

[Niles]

2.3 20v T5 engine, cam belt side of the engine, whats this silvery thing? Its noisy on my car, last car didnt make a squeek from here. What is it? What duz it do? Bitch to change?
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b91/camelbeanie/2006_0924mysterythingy0002.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b91/camelbeanie/2006_0924mysterythingy0001.jpg

[Dan850r]

think its the tensioner for the aux belt, has it got a square recess in it?

[Niles]

yep, its got a recess thing, is it hard to change? Seems rattly on mine. Sholud it rattle at all? Daft question i know but iv never had a problem like this before.

[Dan850r]

dont know about the rattle, it could be a loose mechanism inside, as for changing its probably one of those things best left to a mechanic unless you have suitable experiance.

check a haynes manual, it tells you in there how to remove the belt and how to make a tool to undo it.

[mike 850]

yes it is the belt tensioner and its easy to do, took me 10mins, mine was noisey on idle so got one of flea bay, 2 bolts hold it in, then you need to apply pressure to allign them up when fitting, job done

[Niles]

..i think you`ll find its a thingy-ma-bobby. Which will require a whack with a hammer and wd40. :uglyhamme
Phew!! & I thought it was a gyroscopic bebskid mercury converting bypass valve!!! Thank goodness!!! Big or small hammer?

[Niles]

got the 1 off my donor car. Cheated & cut the belt. Havnt got a tool to sway the springy arm out of the way to put it on the new 1 yet. (wildo tomorow)

[JASON 60SE]

hi i think that a half inch or three eighth"s drive knuckle bar fits the tensioner (the square hole) so you can get the belt on.

[mike 850]

i did mine with the belt still on, doesn't take that much leverage, but spose its better with the proper tools

[Straker]

It's an automatic FEAD belt tensioner. Check the Haynes book of lies but I suspect it's a bitch to change. Need to keep them in good working order though....

[Niles]

more like a 3/4 inch square!!