lookingP

Hi folks, I went to the dealership last week for a service. The tech said I have a seized belt tensioner, and suggested to replace tensioner, pulley, bolt, and the lever.

i was looking at pelican parts, and saw the lever is quite expensive Link


So my question to my fellow cayman owner is: is it necessary to replace the lever? How could you tell that the lever needs replacement?

Thanks!

davecramer

Depends on what is seized. Looks like there is a bearing in the lever.
If that's not it, then I'd probably not replace it

981KMAN

If you go ahead ALWAYS ask for your old parts back. I've done this and miraculously when they were completing the repair they discovered that these parts didn't need replacement......

CaymanCarver

Do you notice any belt noise or have any other symptoms?

The "Lever" is a bolt on chunk of aluminum.
I'm struggling to see how a seized Tensioner could damage the Lever. Maybe it caused the bolt to get bent and the bolt races to get rubbed out or something.

Like @981KMAN said, if you have the dealer do this, ask for the old parts.

If you can wrench at all, try doing this yourself. Its really not that hard.
Here is a DIY thread about the Serpentine Belt LINK

nhnguy12

I plan to replace the tensioner and the pulleys when I do the drive belt @ 120k miles. I've been using FCP Euro for the lifetime warranty:
https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/por...ntal-6k1767kt1

How many miles are on your car?

subshooter

I would get it replaced. It's probably not that much more. But since they are in there, I'd just get it done. Saves any worry and maybe saves you money down the line to have to go in there and replace it later. .

lookingP

is there a bearing on the top left where the bolt goes in to fix the lever in place? I was looking at the part online, but couldn’t figure out where it can seize, besides the actual tensioner. Maybe i should take the back cover off this weekend haha

lookingP

I hear a higher pitched whine when idling (although not too bad). The whine gets louder with speed and revs.

I’ve been thinking of doing this myself. I have 0 experience with working on cars (never changed a tire), how risky do you think it is for me to do this? Thanks!

lookingP

i have about 50k miles on my car. Do you hear any high pitch noise when you rev your car?

nhnguy12

Nothing out of the ordinary for me. I just plan to replace the tensioner & pulleys purely based off of age and mileage.

As far as being able to wrench, my Cayman is the first car I decided to do my own work on. As long as you're patient and take your time, most of the regular maintenance items are doable even as a complete novice.

Kitc2246

Youtube is your friend. You will be working on the end of the engines behind the two seats after remove the carpet and access panel. I'd ask for clarification on what is seized. The tensioner keeps the serpentine belt tight. It has a pulley on a bearing. There is also another pulley. As indicated with very high miles replacing them before failure makes sense. Not impossible as your first DIY job but find the local PCA club, Xcross events and a mechanically inclined friend with tools. The is a space bolt that is easily lost when you remove the panel. I did the belt on my 09 which did not have the spacer bolt. I had my indy shop do my 2013 Boxster serpentine. If I DIYed a 981 I'd order the spacer bolt as a backup part.

I also use FCP Euro for parts. You didn't say what year and how many miles. If you going to replace it I'd do everything show in the FCP link.

If the tensioner pulley is seized how is the car driveable?