Serpentine Belt tensioner

**Bushie** · 17th June 2007, 09:02 AM

Does anyone have the bearing details for the tensioner - mines started to squeal, so it'll have to be replaced soon.

Either a number or size

Martyn

**roverrescue** · 17th June 2007, 09:23 AM

98 fender... 300tdi?
if so NTN 6203 is the size, ive found the LH (blue covers) hold up longer than the LU (red covers).
Same sealed bearing for both tensioners(serp + ac) and ac idler.

steve

**Bushie** · 17th June 2007, 09:42 AM

Originally Posted by roverrescue

98 fender... 300tdi?
if so NTN 6203 is the size, ive found the LH (blue covers) hold up longer than the LU (red covers).
Same sealed bearing for both tensioners(serp + ac) and ac idler.

steve

Thanks Steve,

Nice and common and cheap - makes a change

Martyn

**roverrescue** · 17th June 2007, 10:17 AM

I always carry a spare... might have something to do with the sort of off road I get up to (wet season fishing trips etc) but I reckon I could change over a squeeler bearing in under 30minutes now... thats what practise does.
steve

mcrover · 17th June 2007, 10:51 AM

1/2 hr why so long? lol

I keep a tensioner pulley in the toolbox complete with new bearing as it keeps the brearing in good order and I can always knock it out for one of the other tensioner pulleys if I need to.

**4bee** · 17th June 2007, 11:02 AM

Can I assume it's the same for the 3.9 V8?

mcrover · 17th June 2007, 11:09 AM

Originally Posted by 4bee

Can I assume it's the same for the 3.9 V8?

Dont know.

**justinc** · 17th June 2007, 11:16 AM

Originally Posted by 4bee

Can I assume it's the same for the 3.9 V8?

Certainly is, 6203 fits these also.

Also, a very important thing to note BEFORE you replace the bearing, check that the tensioner is not deflected when under load, as this will cause belt squeal more than the bearing will. The plastic bush inside the tensioner wears away on one side, causing it to deflect slightly when loaded up, thereby trying to force the belt off the end of the pulleys slightly, causing a squeal.
The way to check this with a Tdi is to stand off to the passenger side of engine and look across the tensioner pulley to see if it is running parrallel to the water pump pulley. If it isn't, then chances are the tensioner is failing/ has failed and the next step eventually is the belt shreds itself on the way off the end of the pulleys....Not happy Jan.
V8's suffer far less from this problem, must be the torsional vibes of the Tdi that flogs the tensioner bushes out faster.

JC

**4bee** · 18th June 2007, 10:05 AM

Thanks jc.

**d2dave** · 24th February 2010, 08:53 PM

I am replacing the bearing in mine and was wondering whether the pulley bolt was left or right hand thread.

My reason for wondering is that when you put a 15 mm spanner on the bolt to relieve the tension off the belt, you are pulling the bolt in the undo direction (if it was RH thread).

So logic tells me it should be LH thread.

Dave.

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