What version of the tensioner should I get

sunburnedaz · Post by **sunburnedaz** » Thu Oct 14, 2010 5:46 pm

I have 00 Neon and I am gonna change the timing belt, tensioner, water pump, passenger side motor mount, and accessory pulley this weekend or next. Should I go with the 2000 type tensioner with the prewound spring or should I go with the 2004 Neon's type of tensioner or is there a better one yet than one of those

heydockyle · Post by **heydockyle** » Thu Oct 14, 2010 6:19 pm

You want the newest style mechanical tensioner.

fixitmattman · Post by **fixitmattman** » Thu Oct 14, 2010 6:37 pm

You can't buy the 2000 tensioner. It's obsolete and they try and sell you a $900 conversion kit to go to the hydraulic style tensioner. The 04 tensioner is a direct bolt on in a 2000.

sunburnedaz · Post by **sunburnedaz** » Thu Oct 14, 2010 7:25 pm

understood. Thanks for the info.

Donkeypuncher · Post by **Donkeypuncher** » Thu Oct 14, 2010 9:41 pm

The Litens mechanical tensioner seems to be the most highly recommended. http://www.store.partsdinosaur.com/product1781.html

They also offer it with the gates racing belt: http://www.store.partsdinosaur.com/product3222.html

sunburnedaz · Post by **sunburnedaz** » Mon Oct 18, 2010 4:01 pm

Update. I ended up ordering the kit TCKWP245A from gates that comes with with that tensioner and a gates belt and a new water pump for 131.79 plus shipping which along with everything else was less than 10 bucks shipping from rockauto.com

quicksilvr · Post by **quicksilvr** » Wed Oct 20, 2010 1:17 pm

sunburnedaz wrote:Update. I ended up ordering the kit TCKWP245A from gates that comes with with that tensioner and a gates belt and a new water pump for 131.79 plus shipping which along with everything else was less than 10 bucks shipping from rockauto.com

Sounds good. However you need to check one thing when you do the install. If your car currently has the hydraulic style tensioner, you will have to modify the INNER timing cover....or the new style tensioner will not bolt down properly.

You have to cut a hole in the plastic of the inner cover to allow the center part of the new tensioner to sit flush against the block.

Old

Ready for the new

m_peterson6 · Post by **m_peterson6** » Sun Oct 24, 2010 2:37 pm

Does this apply to a 2005 SXT 2.0l Neon? I have 90k on the odometer and am preparing to change the Timing Belt and Water Pump but I cannot figure out if it has a mechanical tensioner or hydraulic tensioner.

From all my research I think the Liton mechanical is the way to go and I am pretty sure the Liton tensioner will bolt on to a car that came stock with a hydraulic tensioner?

Thanks for the help!

Post by **occasional demons** » Sun Oct 24, 2010 2:49 pm

An '05 should have the Liten's tensioner from the factory. IIRC, they went with that in '04.