does anyone know how to rebuild the TC tensioner? I can't find an original style replacement for my '99 and I'm not about to take the whole friggin' TC cover off to put on the new design. there must be a way to fix whatever goes wrong with these things.

 

I heard someone replaced the rubber seal on the side of the part, but havent actually heard if it worked or not.

Your best bet is try and find an old style tensioner

-matt

 

When you say TC tensioner, you mean that one that is accessible through the cover right?

If it is, then it is rebuillable.

I rebuilt my new TC tensioner like this:
-Buy new TC tensioner
-Remove o-ring, piston, spring
-Take off your old TC Tensioner
-Remove o-ring, piston, spring

Install new o-ring, piston, and spring from your new tensioner to old tensioner (add a little bit of oil to new ring). You may have a bit of trouble getting the o-ring into the groove, but be patient it will get in there.

Install and good bye to that old rattling sound. Installing is a pain in the a$$, but less pain than removing the TC cover. By the way, removing the power steering fluid container helps a lot.

Not that I ever did this, but I hear you can buff your old cylinder, reassemble onto new TC tensioner casing and repackage. Return and tell them you simply don't want to remove the TC Cover or that your mechanic wanted too much for the install

 

mex - good info thanks. when u did the rebuild, could you tell by looking at the old parts why it caused the noise. were they visibly worn, scored, o-ring stretched or leaky, etc? $50 for for these parts is still a bit steep, but hey if it fixes the noise...

btw - this is the noise I'm trying to fix...
http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=486256

 

I think I invented this procedure