Jim Grant's Tech Tips
'94 Mazda B4000, Alternator Belt Tensioner
Q:
I just had to replace
the alternator on my 94 Mazda B4000 6 cyl. Pickup. The spring loaded
automatic belt tensioner now appears to run at a bad angle. It looks like
it is out of alignment. Is this normal? I forgot to look at it before
I loosened it and removed the belt. Any help is very much appreciated.
- Ron H.
A:
It is not uncommon
for an automatic tensioner to have the type of problem youre describing.
The tensioners internal bushings wear with age resulting in an alignment
problem. The problem is common enough that you should find it in stock
at your nearby parts store. The only concern I have is you said that you
unbolted it. To service the serpentine belt on an engine equipped with
an automatic belt tensioner only requires rotating the tensioner back
against the spring tension. If you removed the tensioner you may have
mispositioned it. Most automatic belt tensioners have an alignment dowel
to reference the tensioner correctly. If the dowel is not in the correct
position, you will have an alignment issue.
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