replacement parts very often don't mimic the original. Production changes over time make some virtually unrecognizable. Nothing you show in that video is alarming.

 

That's just like my original (INA?) tensioner made in Slovakia. The Dayco 89356 I got from Rock Auto many years ago was the good one with rubber boot, which allowed me to change the oil in it.
Is there no number, name and/or country stamped on it?

 

There is only one marking on the Amazon.com one anywhere, and it says "06D12". Presumably a lot number of some kind.

 

During the Toyota belt squeal tensioner debacle there were several tensioner updates. Most cars got the rubber boot original tensioner. The 2nd revision was a rigid plastic cap (what I put on all cars I have done tensioners on) and then back to the rubber (probably to deplete stock). Only the original tensioners are really a problem. The squeal was actually caused by the poor quality OEM Bando belt that stretches and squeals after just 20,000 miles. That nut that holds the tensioner hydraulics to the body comes in varying levels of tightness. If you can simply tighten it. Everything else looks legit. I have yet to see a failed rigid plastic capped tensioner. Put it on and forget about it.

 

My original plastic cap tensioner (INA?) got very noisy before long. My Dayco with rubber cap is still perfect with about 125,000 miles on it... I did change the oil in it to start, and again recently.

 

Where did you get your Dayco from and how did you change the oil in it?

 

OK, appreciate the input, all. I'm returning the defective one (the hole at the top of the piston being at a 45° angle can't be fixed as far as I can tell, it's actually a defect) and getting another. If it fails, I guess I'll get another brand but the price on this guy was right.

 

Can't you put a screwdriver in the hole and twist the top. Absolutely nothing on it looks defective. Mine looks identical to that one.

 

Dude, I tried. It felt like it was literally welded that way.

 

Yeah, your Dayco tensioner looks fine. You can simply rotate the mount to its proper angle.

 

Just put a large adjustable wrench on it or the largest screwdriver you can fit it in, while holding the tensioner bewteen your legs while sitting if you don't have a vise.

 

HAHA I had to laugh at the "Is this a Chinese imitation or is this an original part?" question in the video. OF COURSE IT'S A CHINESE IMITATION!

**EVERYTHING** these days is a Chinese Imitation! It's all made in China these days!

In an effort to be competitive in pricing even trusted brand names use Chinese-made parts. This includes Motorcraft, AC Delco, Gates, Dayco, Wagner.. you name it chances are it's made in China!

These days it surprises me when I find a part that ISN'T made in China!

As far as your tensioner goes.. well I'm sure it's fine. As previously stated auto parts constantly undergo design changes - especially when it comes to aftermarket manufacturers. Many times they'll take the original part, find out how and why it failed and re-engineer that part to hold up better. Of course sometimes they take the opposite approach too by seeing how they can cut costs (usually) without sacrificing longevity at the same time.

Regardless yes sometimes parts can look quite a bit different and still fit and function just fine. Quit being so paranoid!

 

Quit being so paranoid!

You guys were 100% correct. Allow me to further embarass myself. My original tensioner which I believed to have the rubber boot at first glance is actually the kind with the plastic cover.

You guys were right. I straightened out the tensioner and threw it on today. Runs like a dream...no noise at all. Really pleased.

Before:

After:

Now as you all know I didn't buy this car until it had 97k miles so my assumption was that this was the original tesnioner, however, I had a HELL of a time getting that big bolt out and when I finally got it out, I found that the threads and the inside of the hole were coated with this garbage, who knows what it was, almost like some kind of glue. Had to clean it up (compressed air, bent paper clip) before I could even get the bolt back in by hand. I wonder if someone had done this tensioner before and put locktite or something on the threads...at any rate got it back in, threw a new Gatorback on...running very quiet, no more ticking.

Also put some fresh MT-90 in the tranny while I had the engine jacked up.

 

I got the same Chinese tensioner from Rock Auto. And I returned it. The box said "Made in China". The original has "Slovakia" stamped on it. I ended up buying the original part (Part # 16620-0W093) from ebay.

 

Good work, MD1032... How much did you pay for your fake tensioner?

 

Not fake as we've discussed... It was I believe $70 from Amazon. About half what my dealership wanted.

 

If I were you I would put it back in.

That stuff was loctite. It was likely pinkish/red. That is a high vibration area and there is a chance that bolt can come loose and reak.

 

It should be fine if properly torqued. I'd be more concerned about the bolt seizing up in the aluminum block from oxidation buildup, and may use anti-seize compound instead of Loctite.

 

It was something gray. I used anti seize. Couldn't fit a torque wrench in so I just put as much torque on it as I could with my 17 mm gear wrench.

 

To each their own but I usually go with the simple rule of if Toyota didn't think it needed to be there it probably wouldn't. 1 oz of loctite over more than 1 million cars is a bunch of money they could have saved. I use the same rule for bolts.

 

I'm seeing that there are several tensioners made for the car. Dayco, Gates, ACDelco, Goodyear, Hayden...sheesh! Any of these other ones a brand to stay away from? I figure something like Goodyear will be a good one, but I don't want to assume...

 

I have a few good tensioners left from people who had new tensioners and got another when they came back for a new belt squeal from a stretched Bando belt. I'm pretty sure I still have like 3-4 updated tensioners left.

 

If you're offering I'll be more than happy to take one off your hands. :thumbsup:

 

+1 Same here, count me in. PM'd you @hardtopte72

 

if you still have tensioner left for 1zzfe 2003 corolla s, let me know how much you'd wnat for it. I'm a bit confused which is the latest tensioner to put on, a hydraulic one or one with a coil spring