Cambelt tensioner failure.

**nobananas** · Tuesday 27th April 2010, 20:17

I'll probably be doing the cambelt this weekend. It doesn't really need doing as I changed it 50,000 miles ago but I'm starting to get 'the fear' (and I go on holiday in a week or so and you know what happens when I go on holiday in the T5 !). I will probably do the water pump too and obviously be fitting a cambelt kit but what about the hydraulic tensioner plunger ?. Has anyone had any experiences with these failing ? Mines been on since year dot so has covered at least 200k (as well as whatever the 'real' mileage may be !) and I'm thinking about doing it as well. ( if I can afford it !)

**cameron** · Tuesday 27th April 2010, 20:19

This had seized solid on mine so i had to change it last month when i done my cambelt.

**nobananas** · Tuesday 27th April 2010, 20:26

I'm assuming that the plastic washer that fits over the plunger is there in case the plunger fails so that the tension doesn't completely come off the belt ?

**cameron** · Tuesday 27th April 2010, 20:28

No idea tbh, i didnt change it, but i did have the part shown to me and a nice bill at the end of i of about £250 inc belt and other bits and bats

**Tomcat** · Tuesday 27th April 2010, 20:55

TBH I've never changed the hydrolic tensioner yet, provided that your REALLY carefull when you wind it back in (take lots of time) then you shouldn't have a problem. The plastic spacer comes with the new timing belt so you may as well replace that.