Tensioner Noise

[Debra.and.David]

We have a 1997 Toyota Corolla that we are trying to diagnose. There is a rattling/banging noise coming from the tensioner that holds the belt. It rattles and vibrates back and forth with a very loud noise.

Is this going to be hard to fix? Can we do this repair ourselves? Is this a timing belt thing?

[kevdude]

The tensioner for the timing belt is under the front cover. Have you had it removed to inspect the belt/tensioner? Or is it another belt on the engine? The power steering, water pump, alternator, and AC all have belts that can come loose.

The timing belt and tensioner replacement is not too hard, just time consuming.

[speedy25]

Or is it the water pump making all that noise?

-SP

[96coroll]

When is it making this noise? Reverse? Drive? turning left or right? Idle?

[Debra.and.David]

Originally Posted by kevdude

The tensioner for the timing belt is under the front cover. Have you had it removed to inspect the belt/tensioner? Or is it another belt on the engine? The power steering, water pump, alternator, and AC all have belts that can come loose.

The timing belt and tensioner replacement is not too hard, just time consuming.

Well, at least it sounds like we might be able to do it ourselves. Thanks kevdude

Originally Posted by speedy25

Or is it the water pump making all that noise?

-SP

Ooph...well, I'm not sure, but it is really loud and that thing the belt is on is vibrating really bad and shakes back and forth as it turns the belt and sounds like it's going to come off. David says it won't but I'm not sure what's about to happen.

Originally Posted by 96coroll

When is it making this noise? Reverse? Drive? turning left or right? Idle?

It gets progressively louder as the engine warms up. We tried the Reverse/Drive/Left/Right thing - the sound remains the same. Same sound while driving or idling.

Am I responding on here correctly? David is going to be so embarrassed. lol

[Kiwi-Corolla]

Originally Posted by Debra.and.David

Am I responding on here correctly? David is going to be so embarrassed. lol

Yep, you are, however I just merged your posts together

[96coroll]

Well if it's making the noise all the time. Either your tensioner is super super loose. Cause my tensioner was making noise in reverse and when turning left only and it was pretty loose.

Or next guess could be maybe engine mounts. Put a block of wood between a jack and oil pan. And lift slightly on the engine. And if the vibration goes away than it's the mounts.

-leo

[96coroll]

Oh i just read you post again. I guess you confirmed it that it's the tensioner.

Well you would have to remove the two plastic covers around the timing belt. and you should be able to see the tensioner. If you can just tighten the nit fromthere than you'd be good.

But the process to do the timing belt would be something like:

Remove passenger front wheel
remove or just pull down the plastic guard so you can work.
remove value cover
remove the belts
remove two plastic timing covers
remove engine mount. (support with jack on oil pan)
Mark the wheel(not sure what it's called)
Remove the nut holding the lower wheel( best to use an air gun)
either use a idle pulley or just tap lightly with a hammer to take the wheel off.
Than you can take off the belt. And make use the markings to get it to TDC.
And reassemble.

I didn't really describe well how to to the timing marks. As i can't really remember how it went when i did it.

I don't know if that helps

[cnemte]

offset metric wrenches will be your best friend! I had to do a timing belt replacement several times on a 1994 1.8. If you do it yourself, get yourself a Guidebook and it will walk you through it. good lucK

[Debra.and.David]

Oh my...well, the bolt came out and the belt came off at the grocery store parking lot. I got a new belt to go on, but I'm concerned about the bold. It doesn't look like it broke, but there's a slot on it like it may fit into something. I wish I could post pictures of the place where the bolt came out of so I can make sure I know what I'm doing.

[Debra.and.David]

Well, I posted two pictures - one of the bolt that came out and the other of the cylinders minus the alternator belt. It's the lower middle cylinder where the bolt came from.

[ganda1f]

Where are the pictures? What do you mean with cylinders? Are you referring to pulleys that the belt sits on?
Please clarify.
Cylinders are where the pistons move up and down. The only "bolt" that can (very unlikely though) come out from a cylinder, or the head to be exact, is a spark plug.