Timing belt tensioner

[Jeepertim]

I have a 01 PT that I just picked up for 1500 with a busted timing belt. I have the engine tore apart, and was wondering if ti was completely necessary to up grade to the 2nd design belt tensioner? I guess the way I see it is that the car went 95000 miles with the old style why not just replace the tensioner with the original design? Also when I got the car the guy had already tried working on it, and he too the PS reservoir line off, in the manual I have they say not to remove this, is that a problem or are there going to be problems from that? Thanks Tim

[Mean Green]

Originally Posted by Jeepertim

I have a 01 PT that I just picked up for 1500 with a busted timing belt. I have the engine tore apart, and was wondering if ti was completely necessary to up grade to the 2nd design belt tensioner? I guess the way I see it is that the car went 95000 miles with the old style why not just replace the tensioner with the original design? Also when I got the car the guy had already tried working on it, and he too the PS reservoir line off, in the manual I have they say not to remove this, is that a problem or are there going to be problems from that? Thanks Tim

The 2nd design is a better one. I would upgrade. There must have been a problem with the old design or believe me Chrysler would never have spent money on a redesign.

[Jeepertim]

Thanks for the reply. Does anyone else have any input for this thread? I am just having a had time coughing up the dough right now for the kit for Chrysler

[slartyblarfast]

Get the upgrade! I've seen a lot of problems with the old design. You can't even get the old design from Chrysler! As for the P/S line, should not be a problem. When you put it back together it will have air in the system but will work itself out.

[Jeepertim]

Cool I guess I'll just have to suck it up and buy the kit from mopar. Thanks for the replies Tim

[dmills483]

I too couldn't get the belt over the 2nd generation tensioner!!!!

I read nearly every post on many sites none of which helped. I measured the diameter of the old and new tensioner and they were within 6 thousandths of each other.... so that's not the problem.

What I determind is that there is no way you can get the 2nd generation belt tensioner to retract far enough to get the belt over it.

So I removed the tensioner roller from it's bracket by loosening and removing it's pivot bolt.... and set it aside.

First, I made sure that the crankshaft was alinged with crankcase mark on the back edge of the crankshaft tooth.

Second, I made sure the right side valve cam sprocket mark was horizonal.... I did this by aligning a flexable metal ruler across the center of each valve cam sprocket bolt....

Third, I then threaded the timing belt around the crankshaft sprocket... the water pump... the timing belt pivot pulley.... and the right side valve cam sprocket.... at that point placed a small visegrip on the timing belt and right side valve cam sprocket.... this held the belt and the crank and right side valve cam from moving.

I then positioned the left side valve cam sprocket one half tooth below the right side valve cam sprocket, positioned the belt over the left side cam and reinstalled the belt tensioner roller making sure the tensioner spring was between the mounting bracket tangs. I removed the small visegrip... tensioned the tensioner as per instructions .... turned the the crankshaft two revolutions and everything align as it should.

So there is no magic way to pre-position the 2nd generation tensioner

[CREWZIN]

Jeepertim,

If your short on cash, instead of getting the parts from Chrysler, try RockAuto Auto Parts Lots of us have used their parts for a number of items including the timing belt/water pump/tensioner kit.

[UptownSport]

^^^^ Thanks Crewzin' noticed RA had a conversion kit when doing time belt R&R.
-Took forever to determine which tensioner it actually had!

[rcktpwrd]

RockAuto is the way to go. There are discount codes floating around too...

[UptownSport]

Only exception is the water pump, I'd buy a NEW mopar unit, although $$$
RA packages items poorly at times (Had rod bearings loose in box

and leaves items out, or sends you used stuff. They do take care of it, tho