Changing Aux belt tensioners pulleys 2.1td Xantia

admiral51 · Unread post by **admiral51** » 14 Mar 2010, 19:07

Hi All

I intend to bite the bullet and change the aux belt tensioners and pulleys on my 2.1td.
Cant seem to find my GSF catalogue and could do with a little help on part numbers etc
Am i correct in thinking the auto tensioner is the same on the 1.9td as the 2.1td.
Does the spring come with the tensioner or is this a seperate item.
I have read CitroJims guide in the handy hints section but can see no mention of the number of pulleys/rollers.I really need to attempt this as my last xantia threw its toys out of the pram when the tensioner gave up the ghost and i cant afford to let it happen again

I reckon that the tensioner has one roller,there is at least one more roller and then the bottom pulley plus the spring oh and the belt

Any pointers in the right direction gratefully recieved

Cheers

Colin

Unread post by **citroenxm** » 14 Mar 2010, 19:15

That would be good, no the spring does not come with the tensioner...

Yes, it seems the 1.9 and 2.1 systems use the same setup..

I personally would not bother fitting another spring, and instead replace it with a fixed length bar.. then use the eccentric roller to tension the belt.

I did this mod with a 1,9 td, on a 1998 S plate, and it never gave any bother again.. I know I had to adjust the eccentric about twice, to bed in sligh stretch of a new belt, but its been perfectly fine since!

Paul

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 14 Mar 2010, 20:21

This article may help Colin.

I wrote it when I replaced the tensioner on my 2.1TD.

admiral51 · Unread post by **admiral51** » 14 Mar 2010, 20:37

Thanks Paul and Jim

Guessed the spring was going to be a seperate part

Any thoughts on the changing of the main pulley(crank

) for the aux belt or am i being over sensetive on this issue

Apart from GSF any ideas if there is a kit out there that supplies the complete set.

Had read your rightup Jim, hence why i managed to get the right number of pulleys/rollers.. you know what im like describing technical terms

Colin

Xaccers · Unread post by **Xaccers** » 14 Mar 2010, 20:43

I'd not worry about changing the spring unless it turns out when you've got a new working tensioner that the spring isn't able to apply enough pressure to tension the belt enough (and I can't see that being the case)

Unread post by **citroenxm** » 14 Mar 2010, 21:48

You cannot assume the spring to be good! The lower part of the fixing point gets a hammering when the spring gets weak, and destroys the bush, and ovels the fixing point... precaution says change the spring, much safer in the long run, you dont wanna be removing it all again 6 months down the line!!

Paul

Xaccers · Unread post by **Xaccers** » 14 Mar 2010, 22:25

When the spring gets weak?
It's hardly moved in it's lifetime especially if the needle rollers collapse and lock the tensioner in place.
I'm trying to get my head around how it gets a hammering.

Unread post by **citroenxm** » 16 Mar 2010, 22:38

Xac!

You not come across a tensioner that vibrates when the car is idleing??

Ill have to find a tensioner thats been hammered then and show you the damage caused! Ive had a couple now, looked bad too...

How can I explain the noise, it gives off a low Rumble sort of noise, and you can see the roller on the end of the tensioner "bouncing" with the belt..

Paul

Xaccers · Unread post by **Xaccers** » 16 Mar 2010, 23:01

Yes, that's the tensioner and it's bearings give up the ghost hence the need to replace it, but the spring which keeps the tension hardly moves.
I use weaker springs in a weekend application (so weak they can be cut with wire cutters) which get compressed completely and released thousands and thousands of times a weekend without failure or reduction in power (ie a 1J spring two years and 150-200,000 rapid total compressions and releases later still produces 1J).
Just trying to get my head around the spring getting weak and needing replacing.
Cassy's was very strong.