Celica Forums General Discussion Exterior Belt tensioner issue on GTS

You guys have heard about this common issues for the GTS and GT?

I found a solution that I want to share with everyone who is interested.

The issue comes from the simple fact that the bearing inside the plastic tensioner pulley is dry. The grease inside as broken down and the bearing is now causing the noisy vribation.

Solution number 1: Take it to your local Toyota Dealer, get shafter for $491.00 parts and labor (New tensioner, new belt)

Solution number 2: 2 hours of your time and some quality grease.
Steps: Remove the belt off the tensioner, 17mm wrench and extension to remover the pressure ont he belt. Then slip of the altenator firts.

Now remove the bolt holding the pulley on, this is a special bolt. I used (don't laugh) and small pipe wrench.

Now you got the pulley in your hand, remove both seals of the bering. I used a small flat screwdriver. Be carefull not to damage the seals.

Clean the bearing using contact cleaner, let dry.

Repack the bearing with a quality grease, I used a high pressure synthetic grease.

Re-install the seal, they just pop into place

Replace the special bolt with standard 10.2 hardware

and you know the rest.

NOTE: This will not work if you have waited too long and the bearing is damaged. From original/new there is play in bearing so judge accordingly

Now got get a CAI with the money you have saved.
Cheers

Does the vibration noice or squealing noicelasted for 5-7 Mins? I got this problem. Have replace the tensioner and belt and it does not seem to fix the problem. If anybody could give me some help. Dealer doesn't seem know what the problem is.

Use a screw driver (long as possible), remove most of the plastic around the side of the engine.

Now start the motor and wait until you hear the squeak. Now place the screw driver close to the bearings on the altenator and so on. Place your hear against the screw driver handle. Make sure you don't have long hair that is going to get into the fan belt (can you say ouch).

The trick is that the sound travels thru the screw driver and into you hear. Just move to differrent area of the motor until you can get a fix on it.

More then likely it's a bearing, could be the altenator, power steering, air cond. or the second idler bearing.

Be caferul, I don't want you to bitch at me next week because you lost your finger in the altenator.

ya , the ongoing tensioner prob is annoying and makes the celica sound way too ghetto i just warranty the sob, and toyota will keep warrantying it even after your warranty is gone - as long as you had the prob worked on before thru warranty(at least my toyota does, the service manager there is kewl), so i just let them deal with it lol (i've had to warranty my tensioner three times, about every seven months)

I've had mine changed three times,belt tensioner and all, by the third time i was pissed so I went to NAPA, and they sold me something called BELT DRESSING, and this fixed it. It hasn't made the noise for 2 months, more than the actual toyota dealer do...

$5 solution to squeaky belt tensioners

[ 05-09-2003, 09:22 PM: Message edited by: Steven ]

My celica problem is weird. Even with the Belt taken off, when I cold start it, I would hear the rattling or squealing noice for 5-7 mins until the engine is warm. I have even replace the power steering, but did not help. Could it it the Idler bearing? I'm like ???