Oooo could Tensioner problem be worse than I thought?

JeffM · Post by **JeffM** » Mon Nov 10, 2008 6:15 pm

So my car has been squealing like a pig in the slaughter house for some time now whenever I turn on the A/C, defroster, fan, etc. It really only happens when at low speeds or stopped.

I took my car in last weekend to have my snow tires put on and the belts looked at. My mechanic says it's the belt tensioner going bad and he could replace it. I didn't have time for my car to be in the shop for longer so I said no.

WELL. tonight as I was driving to school my belts were having their little chorus at every stop light I went up to and I would wiggle the wheel for a bit till they would stop (I've done this for some time so it's a routiene <-sp?). Rinse and repeat. UNTIL when I was coming up to a light I put on my brakes and it felt like my pads had just decided to dissapear and I hear a horrible grinding noise like gravel on gravel. I atomatically think my brakes are gone and I freak but come to a full stop. At the next light however the grinding stopped and moved to a high pitch screech (like when you haven't used your brakes in a while).

Now to my question: Could this be in anyway associated with the tensioner? Or is my car just deciding that now is a good time to fall apart?

Any help would be great!

Mat00ES · Post by **Mat00ES** » Mon Nov 10, 2008 6:21 pm

my car did the whole horrible squealing sound, then smoke started to pour out from under my hood. My compressor had seized on me, and the belt was burning.

LionheartedSXT · Post by **LionheartedSXT** » Mon Nov 10, 2008 6:43 pm

WTF is up with tensioners on neons...like of all things that would have to go bad on the car, it would be that...it seems we all feel your pain, except for the brakes, Have you looked at your pads lately??

JeffM · Post by **JeffM** » Mon Nov 10, 2008 6:55 pm

LionheartedSXT wrote:except for the brakes, Have you looked at your pads lately??

Not lately. They hadn't made any noise till now so I didn't feel the need to check. I guess I will when I get home. Cold dirt driveway in the dark FTL.

Donkeypuncher · Post by **Donkeypuncher** » Mon Nov 10, 2008 7:08 pm

That sounds like the accessory belt tensioner might be bad. At first I thought you meant the timing belt tensioner but squealing belts is a sign of the other tensioner.

If you're over 70K miles you might consider changing the timing belt and tensioner since you have to take off the motor mount bracket anyway.

LionheartedSXT · Post by **LionheartedSXT** » Mon Nov 10, 2008 7:13 pm

Yea make sure to check them to see how low they are, because a similar thing happened to me, my brakes started squeaking and the pads were extremely burnt down...

JeffM · Post by **JeffM** » Mon Nov 10, 2008 7:17 pm

Alright well I'm going to start home. Everyone hope I make it!

Donkeypuncher · Post by **Donkeypuncher** » Mon Nov 10, 2008 7:23 pm

Those belts can break and fall off, and you wouldn't have a problem driving the car. The tensioner only uses the power steering/air condition9ing belt so it doesn't really affect the driveability of the car. Although it's much harder to turn the wheel while stopped.

esteinmaier · Post by **esteinmaier** » Tue Nov 11, 2008 11:49 am

My R/T hasn't had a belt on it since spring. Better gas mileage. Last tank was 39.8mpg.