when changing the cambelt, whats the tensioner

i guessing its something to do with adjust the tension of them cambelt? involved with setting it up?

do you always replace these when doing the cambelts? do they have to be replaced everytime?

i dont understand it fully, can anyone shed a bit of light?

cheers and yes i know im stupid

 

You don't have to replace the tensioner

Steve.

 

but its advisable to.....

 

Yeah, for the sake of 30 quid for a new tensioner and bolt i would replace it too

 

You do if its a zetec engine its storngly advised to change tensioner and idle pullys

So i guess it would depend on what engine were talking about

 

cheers lads but more trying to find out what it does n stuff rather than should i replace it or not (im replacing it anyway)

just wondered, just trying to understand what it does and why it should be replaced?

 

basically it's there to keep the cam belt at the correct tension, it bolts to the cylinder head and then once the cam belt is fitted it is adjusted outwards against the belt to increase the tension.

it needs replacing because it runs on a bearing and there's a fair bit of stress on them, the bearings wear with age and can basically break or loose tension fucking your cam belt/head/engine.

 

bang on, cheers martin. i understand that

 

i've heard of more cars with tensioner failure than cambelt failiure, so yes, you would be stupid not to change the tensioner and any idler pulleys when doing the cambelt just for the sake of a few extra quid

 

....all you need to do is spin the tensioner if it runs nice and smooth and silent its ok..if not replace.