I decided to tighten the belt tensioner because my max was making squealing noises. I thought the belt may have been loose. I turned the tesioner with a wrench and socket 360 degrees two or three times. Each time it got tighter and tighter but not too tight though. Then i heard a "click" noise. Then the tensioner got loose and i could turn it with my hand easily and it wouldn't get any tighter. Did i F something up? What could it be? One good thing though, the squealing noise went away.

 

i dont know about the "click noise" but my alternator/ air conditioner belt was squealing and i tightened it a little bit, not even a full turn and the squealing went away. I read some thing on here about how much to tighten for new belts and what not but i didnt understand any of the numbers so...good luck.

 

thanks for the input. anyone else?

 

Prolly popped a thread when turning it, if it doesnt fall off and your belt is not sqeeling then I would'nt worry about it. Unless down the road it starts wobbling around and your car just stops accelerating and all that good stuff

 

How much force does it take to pop the thread? I didn't use much force though.

 

next time, just tighten it up while it is running....that way you can hear it when the squealing goes away...also, I just went through a big PITA when the dampener on my crank pulley came loose and my alternator/idler belt fell off and was "eatten." But, it had been squealing (even when it was dry) for a few weeks....I did nothing about it until it fell off. I then replaced the pulley (which was a big pain to get off) and all the belts..workes fine now.....so maybe wiggle the outside part of the pulley (the dampener and see if its loose)

 

is it possiable to tighten it while its running? i never thought of that. so do u have to loosen the nut on the pully then start it and turn the long bolt thing that makes it tight? so far ive tightened mine like 3 times in 5 months because i have crap belts that keep getting looser and looser it doesnt make sense?

 

You have to loosen the nut on the pulley first . I would never adjust mine with the car running??? After loosening the nut make the adjustment and feel the belt tension. If it's right tighten the nut back up and be done.

 

...it was just so you could hear when the noise would stop.....of course I wouldn't tighten it A LOT while it was running...just to see if i could get the noise to go away..........whats it gonna REALLY hurt anyawy?

 

To make it simple,just change the belt and get a new tensioner screw.I broke mine trying to do the same and found it easier to change both.It's a 15 min job.

 

Thanks for the help and keeping it On-Topic.

 

you more and likly did what i did... forgot to loosen the nut that is on the pully first, therefor breaking the screw. tight area.. but quite easy to replace

 

anyone know how much those those tensioner screws go for at the rip off dealer?

 

screw was like 5 bucks. 12 dollars for the bolt.

 

wow where did you shop?
I did the same thing changing the alternator last week.... I think its reverse threaded sneaky sneaky!
I paid 9 for the screw and 15 for the bolt.... and waited 8 days :/

 

local nissan dealer.. duno why the difference in price.. they got it in 3 days.. but they didnt call me.. so i waited a month be4 i called them up and started b*tchn'