87 and later belt tensioner

[ronniebaldino]

O.K. I just wanna check something. I know the 87 and later cars have a belt tensioner built into the design. Now, is this only there to keep the tension correct or is it there to tension the belt after replacement? Do you need the tensioning tool or do you just change the belt, release the tensioner and drive away without worries?

If that is the case is the belt and roller job on one of these cars fairly easy?

[AFJuvat]

The tensioner is spring loaded and keeps the belt under tension at all times. You do not really need the tool to change the cambelt on an 87 and up 944. You will need it for the balance shaft belt though

You must remove the tensioner to change the cambelt

AFJuvat

[sasquatch]

Originally posted by AFJuvat
The tensioner is spring loaded and keeps the belt under tension at all times. You do not really need the tool to change the cambelt on an 87 and up 944. You will need it for the balance shaft belt though

You must remove the tensioner to change the cambelt

AFJuvat

Not exactly true. The spring loaded tensioner is there to set tension on the belt, then it is locked down and will no longer move. As the belt stretches, it will need to be loosened so the spring can take up the slack, then retightened. The spring is not "active".

The tension on the spring is also adjustable. The first time I did a Tbelt change, I used the spring to set tension, then checked it with the tool. I found that the tension was off a bit. I retensioned with the spring 2 more times rotating the motor in between each adjustment to get a good average. Once I knew what the spring was setting the belt at, I removed the tensioner and adjusted the spring untill I was getting correct readings.

Now, every oil change, I just set my motor at tdc, back it off 1.5 teeth, loosen the lock nut on the tensioner and retighten it. Simple.

[SoCal Driver]

Don't tighten down the pivot and guide bolts and it is an active tensioner. Now why do you think there is a tension adjustment on the spring?