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Tming Belt tensioner (to change or not to change)

Posted: July 4th, 2008, 6:43 pm
by Juans_93_MX3
Doing the KLZE swap. I am going to change the usual. Do a tune up. Even the timing belt and the belts.

But I have a question.
Does the Timing Belt Tensioner really have to be replaced?
Some people have told me I should... but really, how many times do you hear of a timing belt tensioner messing up?
If anything, you hear of the belt itself failing but not the tensioner?
http://www.autozone.com/N,15101204/shop ... ultSet.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
They are $80-$300 bucks.
Worth it?
Also, would a timing belt tensioner for a MX-3 work on a KLZE engine? Its a stupid question but if you search for a timing belt tensioner for a 1993 Ford Probe 2.5L all you get is this. http://www.autozone.com/N,15101204/shop ... ultSet.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It dont give you as much options as it would for the MX-3

Re: Tming Belt tensioner (to change or not to change)

Posted: July 4th, 2008, 7:33 pm
by Juans_93_MX3
95ECRPGT

just do it, you will regret it in the end if you dont.
Ill do it if I have to. But if its something I dont have to change than why do it?

Seriously, how many people around here or Mx-3.com have broken a Timing Belt Tensioner?

While Im changing the belt, why not just change everything around the engine? Let me just go ahead and spend a bunch of $$$ on changing every pulley, oil pan and every other little thing?

Can someone give me a good reason to why i should change the Timing Belt Tensioner?

Re: Tming Belt tensioner (to change or not to change)

Posted: July 4th, 2008, 10:53 pm
by FlyVFR
Look for a timing belt kit. It will include 1 idler and tensioner. I bought a kit a few years ago for under $250. Do not remember the parts vendor though, do a search on Google.

Re: Tming Belt tensioner (to change or not to change)

Posted: July 4th, 2008, 11:28 pm
by Juans_93_MX3
The timing belt tensioner everyone speaks of...
is it this part?
Image

or is the one on the top left?
Image

Re: Tming Belt tensioner (to change or not to change)

Posted: July 5th, 2008, 12:45 am
by FlyVFR
The top pic is the tesioner the bottom pics are the pulleys. The tensioner mates with pulley 85292

Re: Tming Belt tensioner (to change or not to change)

Posted: July 5th, 2008, 2:03 am
by Juans_93_MX3
FlyVFR wrote:The top pic is the tesioner the bottom pics are the pulleys. The tensioner mates with pulley 85292
Ok, so if I understand

Timing belt
two belts
tensioner
tensioner pulley
2 idler pulleys


Look on google or look around. Maybe I can score all these parts for under $255

Re: Tming Belt tensioner (to change or not to change)

Posted: July 5th, 2008, 9:48 am
by FlyVFR
I did a quick search for kits. looks like the kits offered now include the tensioner pulley instead of the auto tensioner.

Don't forget to change the water pump also. :wink:

Re: Tming Belt tensioner (to change or not to change)

Posted: July 5th, 2008, 3:36 pm
by hgallegos915
I didnt change mine as my car has around 60k miles.(enginewise)

Re: Tming Belt tensioner (to change or not to change)

Posted: July 5th, 2008, 5:39 pm
by Juans_93_MX3
hgallegos915 wrote:I didnt change mine as my car has around 60k miles.(enginewise)
My KLZE engine should only have less than 60k miles. Should I still change the pulleys and tensioner?

Re: Tming Belt tensioner (to change or not to change)

Posted: July 5th, 2008, 8:20 pm
by johnnyb
I'd change it....

once you take everything you need apart to do the job you'll see why people change parts that aren't necessarily needed. I did my waterpump at the same time just because I didn't want to do it again for a while.

Re: Tming Belt tensioner (to change or not to change)

Posted: July 5th, 2008, 10:55 pm
by FlyVFR
I would change everything too if the rest of the engine was in top shape. :wink:

Re: Tming Belt tensioner (to change or not to change)

Posted: July 6th, 2008, 9:04 am
by comish71
personally, i would change the tensioner. even if the motor has <60k, you don't know what the motor has been through before you got it. i would think on the consequenses of the tensioner going bad and all of the heartache of going back in to replace something that costs $150-160 and was staring me in the face once the timing belt was off.
i can talk from personal experience in this situation. i chinced on not changing my tensioner. set the timing perfectly. once i got to driving the car it jumped time after a while. so trust me, unless i bought the tensioner myself i definately would change it myself. just my .02
just change it man.

Re: Tming Belt tensioner (to change or not to change)

Posted: July 7th, 2008, 7:54 pm
by hgallegos915
REASON why I didnt change it tho.. my engine is good but not that good, I got 185 comrpession which is still within serv levels. BUT as soon as engine craps out.. i want a straight neck klze engine.

Thats why i didnt bother.


Like when I changed the timing belt in my k8.. payed like 300 dllrs.. and a few months later i swapped engine :/