J Posted May 10, 2007 Report Share Posted May 10, 2007 tensioner is moving all over the place, i have owned at least 7 cars and none of them had this much movement in the tensioner. Is it normal for the 3100 to have this much movement in the tensioner when the car is running? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GP1138 Posted May 10, 2007 Report Share Posted May 10, 2007 There are lines on each side of the tensioner. If the one line on one side doesn't stay inside the two lines on the engine side, the tensioner is worn out. It should be cheap enough to just replace. I bought a junkyard one from a newer 3100 (in a Gen II GP no less) and it's been great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J Posted May 11, 2007 Author Report Share Posted May 11, 2007 There are lines on each side of the tensioner. If the one line on one side doesn't stay inside the two lines on the engine side, the tensioner is worn out. It should be cheap enough to just replace. I bought a junkyard one from a newer 3100 (in a Gen II GP no less) and it's been great. didn't know that, thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
19Cutlass94 Posted May 11, 2007 Report Share Posted May 11, 2007 it shouldnt move very much at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy K Posted May 11, 2007 Report Share Posted May 11, 2007 push the tensioner side to side. if it moves that way pretty much at all.... replace. I have found that the ones used on earlier cars ie 3.1s are much better and more durable that the ones on the 3100s. they interchange too. I have had to replace THREE or FOUR 3100, but never a 3.1 one. and the one from my first Lumina was transfered to another car, and has about 300,000 miles of use and is still good!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! the ones that say "Gates" SUCK!!!!! 3 of them were on cars with less than 100k miles, including the one on crate motor that I estimate to only have 30,000 miles! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J Posted May 11, 2007 Author Report Share Posted May 11, 2007 side to side as in east west? So no gates tensioners? I can go and get one for a 92 3.1 and it'll work? More good into to know Ken, thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5speedz34 Posted May 11, 2007 Report Share Posted May 11, 2007 I'm going to guess they are different for the 3100. When you say it moves, do you mean back and forth like against the block (north-south?) or the pulley itself wobbles back and forth? When he says side to side he means along the block I think if you can move it by hand its bad. Remember though you can break tensioner's by hand Jay! There are lines on each side of the tensioner. If the one line on one side doesn't stay inside the two lines on the engine side, the tensioner is worn out. It should be cheap enough to just replace. I bought a junkyard one from a newer 3100 (in a Gen II GP no less) and it's been great. Are these on the block? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J Posted May 11, 2007 Author Report Share Posted May 11, 2007 it moves north south a lot! east west will be tried later today Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GP1138 Posted May 11, 2007 Report Share Posted May 11, 2007 Are these on the block? They are on the engine side of where the tensioner mounts, yes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
97loudcut Posted May 11, 2007 Report Share Posted May 11, 2007 Buy a new one, put it on, end of complaint. Not that hard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SigEpCutlass Posted May 11, 2007 Report Share Posted May 11, 2007 You need to replace the tensioner Jay. It shouldn't move like that. Check that when you install the new tensioner that it is between the two adjustment marks. If it's moving around that much, you can probably just use a ratchet to get it off. Otherwise, you may need a breaker bar to get the old one off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J Posted May 11, 2007 Author Report Share Posted May 11, 2007 thanks guys, i'll do this later tonight. I've been in the sun since 9am-now(2:53pm) with my 5th graders (field day), so i pretty wiped now. Thanks again all. Jay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
94CutlassSLCoupe Posted May 11, 2007 Report Share Posted May 11, 2007 I replaced it when i first bought the car and it had a rusty pulley and went east-west. It was a cheap advance one, I think the wobbling may be due to either the belt streching or the ac compressor (if you haven't replaced it yet) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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