I bought a Toyota Corolla S (2003) with 67K miles on it last month. I had two problems with the car:
1. There was a squealing noise coming from the belt during the first few minutes after ignition.
2. The car ignition was sluggish and I had to keep the key turned for about 2-3 seconds before it would start.
I turned the car in to the dealer for a minor service. I was told that
1. I had to replace the serpentine belt AND the tensioner AND a leaking seal (was told it was a 'serpentine belt - tensioner seal' - no idea what that might be), which would cost me $500. I declined to have it done.
2. The old battery failed the load test, so they changed the battery. But the car is still a little sluggish when I start it (may be not so much as with the old battery).
I want to know
1. What's with the belt, tensioner and seal - do I really need to change it ?
2. What might I have to replace to have a near instantaneous start ?
how can the dealer piss you in the eye when you brought it there to be examined and then they gave you what they think is wrong.
1) Probably
2) you'll never get instant start.
Well, I TOLD THEM what the problem was (squealing noise) before I turned it in. The mechanic report they gave me also says that they ran the car with a new belt for 10 minutes and there was no squealing noise.
It was not the mechanic who spoke to me, but a 'technical advisor'. The first thing that made me think it was a scam was the 'tensioner - serpentine belt seal'. I dont even think there exists such a seal.
And btw, I think I said 'near instantaneous" (say within a second). I KNOW you can't get an instant start.
hmm thats the problem, if you don't know what is wrong with the car and don't know how to check it before you take it in... You'll end up kind of stuck with what they tell you. Belt and tensioner might have to be replaced, since if it's squeeling it's probably finished or... like said there is oil spraying on it which in that case it's best to replace the belt.
Is there something called the 'serpentine belt - tensioner seal' on a 2003 Toyota Corolla S ?
Before I turned it in, I did notice that the noise was coming from the belt. How can one even tell whether the tensioner needs to be replaced !!
As far as the seal is concerned, the 'technical advisor' said the mechanic might (yes, he used the word 'might', even after I told him to ask the mechanic) have noticed a wet seal.
If the belt is the original and they operated car 10 minutes with a new one without noise then that is probably all it needs. Never heard of a tensioner seal . The tensioner has a bearing inside that could create some noise but bet most of it is caused by your belt. Some service advisors and mechanics make a commission based on the dollar ammount of the repairs done. Some try to sell unnecessary work to pad the bill and their wallets.
all u need is a new serpentine belt... end of story.... u may need a new tensioner but I would see if just a new belt fixes the problem first
D
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Ya, probably just a belt. When in doubt, get a second opinion. They may have suggested an oil seal if they saw something leaking in the belt area (front of the engine), but there is no such thing as a tensioner seal for the drive belt. Keep in mind that the service writers usually dont know squat about cars. They just repeat what the tech tells them, and sometimes they mess that up.
As for your sluggish starting when is the last time you had the spark plugs/wires replaced? If both are the originals they probably need replaced. That would account for the increased cranking time needed for it to start.
The tensioner bear must be replaced with the belt. The bearing is mostlyt he cause for belts breaking. To not rpelace that would be wrong. In fact they would probably refuse to replace the belt only. I don't know which seal they are talking about, but chances are it should be repalced if they say so. Do as you wish. It may run another 50,00 miles, or may only run 100 more miles. You roll the dice.
Well, I TOLD THEM what the problem was (squealing noise) before I turned it in. The mechanic report they gave me also says that they ran the car with a new belt for 10 minutes and there was no squealing noise.
It was not the mechanic who spoke to me, but a 'technical advisor'. The first thing that made me think it was a scam was the 'tensioner - serpentine belt seal'. I dont even think there exists such a seal.
And btw, I think I said 'near instantaneous" (say within a second). I KNOW you can't get an instant start.
I have a 2007 Corolla S, also have a 2005 S (wrecked) and both turn over a couple seconds before starting, I consider it normal. My pathfinder and Tacoma do the same thing... so I dont know what you could do about your starting issue, personally I don't think there is an issue and your car is fine. Far as the belt and tensioner... there is no "serpentine belt seal" and the tensioner prolly has sealed bearings, ie- not servicable. Here is something you can do yourself, remove the belt and spin the tenstioner, alternator, AC compressor etc by hand... if you feel a grind in the pully of that particular item, that is prolly your culprit, or if there is any slop or wobble in the pully replace that item... rarely do you find servicable bearings in accessories or tensioners, and if you did... it would be far less trouble to get a good replacement part ready to install and forget about re-building. Most accessories come with lifetime warranties these days. Good luck to you.
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all u need is a new serpentine belt... end of story.... u may need a new tensioner but I would see if just a new belt fixes the problem first
D
except now the shop's charged you mor labour to take the belt off and reinstall it again. Typically people replace the Tensioner and belt together. When shops do it they say both.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ja52999
there is no "serpentine belt seal" and the tensioner prolly has sealed bearings, ie- not servicable.
Quote:
Originally Posted by bathukoli
1. I had to replace the serpentine belt AND the tensioner AND a leaking seal (was told it was a 'serpentine belt - tensioner seal' - no idea what that might be), which would cost me $500. I declined to have it done.
I think you either didn't remember correctly, were informed wrongly, or they are lying. I say look around for traces of fluid leaking.
I dont think that the ingnition is a problem, and i doubt that your sparke plugs are the problem because mine does the same thing. I just got finished doing a full tune up on my car. I have the same make and model car as you do, and my car does the same thing. Compared to my mazda it is slow but i think it just the timing of the ingnition system these cars have. i would suggest that you would change your spark-plugs if you havent done so already. As far ad the belt goes i think these guys have already answered it for you well. If you have to buy some time until you can install a new belt some soap on the belt will help keep it quite until you can get it fixed.
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