Timing Belt Tensioners...

[mrgeoff]

Hey, I was just wondering if one can change out the Timing Belt Tensioners without disturbing the Timing Belts themselves??? I have a 99 Tourer and do think it is possible to remove and replace one Tensioner at a time...!!! Any advise or hints...??? Thanks...!!!

[Chrisj CMA]

Absolutely no problem just be careful as you unload all the tension that the belt (s) don't jump a tooth.  Maintain tension with a finger on the belt at all times if possible.

[Roidfingers]

Question? do you know when you may have a problem ? or do you just do it to prevent one? And at what  millage? 98 std. 48k.

[mrgeoff]

Thanks Chrisj...I just wanted to know if there was a "trick to the trade"...Roidfingers ...If I ever have to replace them, I'll remember how to be careful...!!!
Happy 4th to ya'll...!!!

[The emperor has no clothes]

Question? do you know when you may have a problem ? or do you just do it to prevent one? And at what  millage? 98 std. 48k.

I wouldn't replace them unless they were making noise or showing signs of the bearings going. I have a Standard with 60k and a I/S with 130k on originals. I do think I'm going to put on new belts on my I/S pretty soon. Will probably replace the tensioners at the same time.

[Firefighter]

You would be smart to line up the marks first,, just in case. That would be easy enough.

[Pete]

You would be smart to line up the marks first,, just in case. That would be easy enough.

Absolutely and then manually rotate the crank to make they line up he next time as well.
That way there is not possibility of  mistake.

Should encounter a hard stop while manually rotating for alignment check then start over from scratch as you have made a mistake.

[Glenn-B]

I checked my tensioners recently. Line up the timing marks. Then put a zip tie around both rungs of the belt to keep it in tension before you remove the tensioner. Replace tensioner. check timing marks. Cut and remove zip tie. Simples 

[Chrisj CMA]

I checked my tensioners recently. Line up the timing marks. Then put a zip tie around both rungs of the belt to keep it in tension before you remove the tensioner. Replace tensioner. check timing marks. Cut and remove zip tie. Simples 

I like that idea as long as you don't forget to snip the zip ties

[0leman]

May have missed it above.  BUT when I replace my belts recently, I had read that one should remove the spark plugs before starting the procedure.   Sure it would apply to replacing the tensioners.  When I replaced the belts, I remove the plus and turn the engine over so the alinement mark lined up, pulled/replaced the belts.  No movement at all in the wheels.   I did rotate the engine a few times to verify that all was well.