C32 AMG, C55 AMG (W203) 2001 - 2007

Tensioner acting funny after NW PSK install.....

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Old Sep 22, 2014 | 09:56 AM
  #1  
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Tensioner acting funny after NW PSK install.....

I've got a case of the "Mondays". Had a great weekend, got a ton of work done on the C32. Installed:

EC HE, CM30 pump, NS Pulley Saver kit, EC 61mm pulley and to top if off........a new old stock Code 3 intercooler reservoir. EC shorty headers were installed this past winter so now I'm hoping to get the tune done today.

That said, everything seemed fine but I noticed that my belt tensioner is now making noise and moving (shaking). Now I have to admit that I did over torque the pulley, realized it.....removed the nut and re-torqued to the proper setting. Could that have messed up the bearing? I checked it when the belt was off (before torque issue) and it was perfect, only about 13K miles on it.

I assume the shaking of the tensioner itself is caused by the pulley having some resistance when it spins?

Here is a photo of my progress before the bumper went back on and a quick video of the tensioner running, thoughts?




http://vid291.photobucket.com/albums...ps0671eb81.mp4
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Old Sep 22, 2014 | 03:16 PM
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Update, problem solved. Tune underway
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Old Nov 23, 2015 | 12:14 AM
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Dasauto - very old thread but I also have a tensioner pulley that is slightly wobbling which i took video of here. what solved your problem?

ayour video looked very similar to mine with the noticeable wobbling of the tensioner pulley. i'm at 112,000 miles and just had idler pulley replaced about a month ago. i have a 178mm crank pulley.

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Old Nov 24, 2015 | 12:05 PM
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Common problem u need new belt tensioner my did the same, changed mine month ago and everything is fine, u will notice big difference in power to I did
It's putting more tension on that tensioner and the spring in there is dead, mine was the same after I installed pulley

Last edited by Morphh; Nov 24, 2015 at 12:23 PM.
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Old Nov 24, 2015 | 04:53 PM
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Originally Posted by Morphh
Common problem u need new belt tensioner my did the same, changed mine month ago and everything is fine, u will notice big difference in power to I did
It's putting more tension on that tensioner and the spring in there is dead, mine was the same after I installed pulley
Exactly........this was caused by a worn tensioner bearing......the slight resistance was making the tensioner itself "wobble". Once I changed the bearing it was perfectly smooth again. Cheap fix and easy.
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Old Nov 24, 2015 | 05:15 PM
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U saying it's the bearing making it wobble or the spring in the belt tensioner?
This sounds bad but I just put 3 screws in it to stop it from moving and it fixed the wobble.
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Old Nov 24, 2015 | 05:28 PM
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Originally Posted by Morphh
U saying it's the bearing making it wobble or the spring in the belt tensioner?
This sounds bad but I just put 3 screws in it to stop it from moving and it fixed the wobble.
Morph / Dasauto - how do you tell if the entire tensioner has to be replaced or just need to replace the bearing or spring? If you check my video it is definitely vibrating a lot, so perhaps thats the spring?

Looks like a brand new tensioner #1122001070 is about 300 bucks, but if you can just buy the replacement spring or bearing and it fixes the wobble that would be cheapest route.

https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/mer...FRCNaQoddSYCMQ
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Old Nov 24, 2015 | 05:54 PM
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I put screws to stop it from moving and to my surprise worked. I think the new pulley the spring in the tensioner gets weak and can't hold it in place especially when open throttle, knock on wood the screws worked for me.
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Old Nov 24, 2015 | 05:56 PM
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I had same problem wobble, I thought it was bearing but the more I looked at it it was the tensioner itself. I'm not saying bearing won't work, but, once I put 3 screws to it, to stop it from moving my wobble went away. I bet when u accelerate it hesitates so slightly, that was what mine was doing, it looks just like ur video, u want to stop the tensioner from moving, hence the screws I used, but I will be ordering new belt tensioner, just temp fix

Last edited by Morphh; Nov 24, 2015 at 06:00 PM.
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Old Nov 24, 2015 | 06:01 PM
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Originally Posted by Morphh
I had same problem wobble, I thought it was bearing but the more I looked at it it was the tensioner itself. I'm not saying bearing won't work, but, once I put 3 screws to it, to stop it from moving my wobble went away. I bet when u accelerate it hesitates so slightly, that was what mine was doing, it looks just like ur video, u want to stop the tensioner from moving, hence the screws I used, but I will be ordering new belt tensioner, just temp fix
I like ur intake, I have same.
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Old Nov 24, 2015 | 06:14 PM
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Originally Posted by jvakos
Morph / Dasauto - how do you tell if the entire tensioner has to be replaced or just need to replace the bearing or spring? If you check my video it is definitely vibrating a lot, so perhaps thats the spring?

Looks like a brand new tensioner #1122001070 is about 300 bucks, but if you can just buy the replacement spring or bearing and it fixes the wobble that would be cheapest route.

https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/mer...FRCNaQoddSYCMQ
Pull the belt off and spin the pulley...........mine was clearly not rolling smoothly and the bearing was shot.
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Old Nov 24, 2015 | 06:20 PM
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Ur right dasauto even guys on srt6 said same to me, to take belt off and spin it, mine was fine that way,
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Old Dec 11, 2023 | 10:53 PM
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it possible to just replace the bearing? At this point a new tensioner is very hard to find. I am hearing a little noise when it rotates but nothing terrible yet. I want to be proactive and fix it but can't find tensioner.
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