Cam & Aux Belt Tensioner Noise, Recorded.

[Higgidav]

£297 at VW Van Centre Manchester.

Not covered by the All-in-one plan.

Or at least, tensioner is but belt isn't.

And they don't recommend a new belt on an old tensioner.

I wondered if the ‘All In’ covered it as mine has now developed the noise on start up and I have one month of warranty left. Guess it’s DIY or my local indi then.

I’ve got to say the All In does seem good value but every time I’ve needed anything it’s not been covered. I don’t think I’ll bother extending it again as I’m tired of doing battle with VW.

 

[racT6bus]

My 2016 (EU6) 150 manual (108k miles) has suddenly started making that squealing noise now on low temps - should I be concerned? I've had a new alternator and changed the cambelt (inc. water pump) this year and have done about 7k miles since. Should the tensioner have been replaced at the same time as the cambelt? It was all done through a reputable Transporter specialist, who presumably would know about this. If I have to get the tensioner changed will I need another new cambelt? Don't have the skills to do this myself sadly!

 

[DXX]

My 2016 (EU6) 150 manual (108k miles) has suddenly started making that squealing noise now on low temps - should I be concerned? I've had a new alternator and changed the cambelt (inc. water pump) this year and have done about 7k miles since. Should the tensioner have been replaced at the same time as the cambelt? It was all done through a reputable Transporter specialist, who presumably would know about this. If I have to get the tensioner changed will I need another new cambelt? Don't have the skills to do this myself sadly!

The cambelt replacement kit includes a new cambelt (timing or toothed belt) tensioner.
The squealing is almost certainly the auxiliary (ribbed) belt which I would expect to be replaced with either the alternator or the cambelt work. At your vans mileage it would have made sense to replace the aux’ belt tensioner at the same time.
An intermittent noisy aux’ belt isn’t an immediate worry unless it’s damaged and likely to fail.
Either way it won’t get better by itself so arrange for investigation and replacement. Check what was replaced in the previous work as it maybe under warranty.

 

[racT6bus]

The cambelt replacement kit includes a new cambelt (timing or toothed belt) tensioner.
The squealing is almost certainly the auxiliary (ribbed) belt which I would expect to be replaced with either the alternator or the cambelt work. At your vans mileage it would have made sense to replace the aux’ belt tensioner at the same time.
An intermittent noisy aux’ belt isn’t an immediate worry unless it’s damaged and likely to fail.
Either way it won’t get better by itself so arrange for investigation and replacement. Check what was replaced in the previous work as it maybe under warranty.

Thanks @DXX that's really helpful, I will dig out the invoices and get it checked out

 

[racT6bus]

Checked my invoice. When I had the alternator replaced they put a new genuine belt (03L903137H) in, work was done in Jan 2023 and have done about 7k miles since. Cambelt and water pump were changed in March, again all genuine parts. Very odd. I am on the Isle of Wight visiting family so have taken it to a local garage to diagnose as it's not getting any quieter.

Additionally and probably unrelated to the above, I had some very odd electrical issues last night - effectively I couldn't turn off the right indicator unless I left the handbrake off!!! So if I lock the van when the indicator stalk is in the centre and if the handbrake is on, it still thinks the right indicators are on, therefore the parking lights show on the right side of the van. So the only way to stop it was to leave the handbrake off or I flatten the battery - FFS!! Luckily I was on flat ground.

 

[ginkster]

Checked my invoice. When I had the alternator replaced they put a new genuine belt (03L903137H) in, work was done in Jan 2023 and have done about 7k miles since. Cambelt and water pump were changed in March, again all genuine parts. Very odd. I am on the Isle of Wight visiting family so have taken it to a local garage to diagnose as it's not getting any quieter.

Additionally and probably unrelated to the above, I had some very odd electrical issues last night - effectively I couldn't turn off the right indicator unless I left the handbrake off!!! So if I lock the van when the indicator stalk is in the centre and if the handbrake is on, it still thinks the right indicators are on, therefore the parking lights show on the right side of the van. So the only way to stop it was to leave the handbrake off or I flatten the battery - FFS!! Luckily I was on flat ground.

The noise on mine was from the aux belt tensioner. Looks like yours wasn’t changed which may not be unusual as it wasn’t part of the kit for mine and was an extra. Seem to remember the part (original) was about £70. Can’t help with the electrical issue I’m afraid. Transporters eh!!??

 

[racT6bus]

The noise on mine was from the aux belt tensioner. Looks like yours wasn’t changed which may not be unusual as it wasn’t part of the kit for mine and was an extra. Seem to remember the part (original) was about £70. Can’t help with the electrical issue I’m afraid. Transporters eh!!??

Thanks @ginkster yeah I just checked the garage didn't change it. Presumably, I will need to change the belt again if I get the tensioner done, wish I had read this thread before I got the alternator replaced!

 

[ginkster]

Thanks @ginkster yeah I just checked the garage didn't change it. Presumably, I will need to change the belt again if I get the tensioner done, wish I had read this thread before I got the alternator replaced!

Hopefully that’s the problem then as it a simple and relatively cheap fix. You may be ok with the belt if it’s not been slipping otherwise I’d change it. They are not expensive and it’s an easy job while they are in there. Good luck.

 

[DXX]

Thanks @ginkster yeah I just checked the garage didn't change it. Presumably, I will need to change the belt again if I get the tensioner done, wish I had read this thread before I got the alternator replaced!

Why was the alternator replaced?

 

[racT6bus]

Why was the alternator replaced?

It was failing to charge the battery properly when driving - weirdly it worked fine when idling! Van is ex RAC so no doubt it's had a harder life than usual. Luckily the replacement was covered under my RAC warranty.

 

[DXX]

It was failing to charge the battery properly when driving - weirdly it worked fine when idling! Van is ex RAC so no doubt it's had a harder life than usual. Luckily the replacement was covered under my RAC warranty.

Just wondering if the real cause was the belt drive.

 

[racT6bus]

Just wondering if the real cause was the belt drive.

Could well have been. The garage has just confirmed it's the tensioner. To replace the tensioner and the belt comes £214 inc. labour which I guess is about average - plus they fit the job in for me at short notice, which is great or I'd have been stranded on the Isle of Wight (not a bad thing TBH!)

 

[kjb1]

A new tensioner and belt from vw is £120ish, you'll save some money if you do it yourself, it's not a hard job. I did one on my sisters t6

so its the tensioner yes? the one fully circled. Did you go in via removing drivers side uk wheel and change there? I will also do the same and change myself. Wish Id kept my 200k 2.5 T5 at the mo

 

[SimonS]

Can someone confirm the tensioner torque settings please, I have found 50NM and 180 deg and 90 deg.
I assume they changed it and I should use this latest 180.
see Torque settings for aux belt tensioner and idler please :-)

 

[Jimmock]

Can someone confirm the tensioner torque settings please, I have found 50NM and 180 deg and 90 deg.
I assume they changed it and I should use this latest 180.
see Torque settings for aux belt tensioner and idler please :-)

Hi, yes the official torque setting is/was 50Nm plus 90deg. This is what I set mine at last year and I assume most others on here did as well, very interesting.
Does this mean we are all running around with under torqued tensioners, concerning !
Anybody thinking we should re torque to 180degrees ?

 

[SimonS]

Hi, yes the official torque setting is/was 50Nm plus 90deg. This is what I set mine at last year and I assume most others on here did as well, very interesting.
Does this mean we are all running around with under torqued tensioners, concerning !
Anybody thinking we should re torque to 180degrees ?

I probably would not re-use as they are down as one use and assume they stretch a bit. It would be good if someone can confirm, anyone have full\paid access to erwin to check the latest values?

 

[Jimmock]

I probably would not re-use as they are down as one use and assume they stretch a bit. It would be good if someone can confirm, anyone have full\paid access to erwin to check the latest values?

Yes, new bolt used when i replaced the tensioner so was wondering. If stretched to the 50Nm plus 90deg would further turning to 180degress (another 90degrees) be the same streching as a single 180 degrees ?

 

[SimonS]

Yes, new bolt used when i replaced the tensioner so was wondering. If stretched to the 50Nm plus 90deg would further turning to 180degress (another 90degrees) be the same streching as a single 180 degrees ?

So I bit the bullet and paid £6 for one hours erWin access and downloaded all the PDF's, based on VN the van build sheet and the service history.
You also get access to the service issues also.
Just to note some models may well have different torque settings, mine was one of the below:

Transporter 2016 ➤
Transporter 2020 ➤
4-cylinder common rail engine (2.0 l, 4V,
turbocharger)
Engine ID CXEB CXFA CXGA CXGB CXHA CXGC CXHB CXEC CXGD CXGE CXHC
Edition 08.2023

This confirmed:
15 - Bolt
❑ Renew after removal
❑ For securing tensioning roller on engine
❑ 50 Nm +180°

 

[Jimmock]

So I bit the bullet and paid £6 for one hours erWin access and downloaded all the PDF's, based on VN the van build sheet and the service history.
You also get access to the service issues also.
Just to note some models may well have different torque settings, mine was one of the below:

Transporter 2016 ➤
Transporter 2020 ➤
4-cylinder common rail engine (2.0 l, 4V,
turbocharger)
Engine ID CXEB CXFA CXGA CXGB CXHA CXGC CXHB CXEC CXGD CXGE CXHC
Edition 08.2023

This confirmed:
15 - Bolt
❑ Renew after removal
❑ For securing tensioning roller on engine
❑ 50 Nm +180°

Okay so confirmed. My engine CXGB and year is there.
One thing concerns me, to get 180degrees may be difficult/awkward as just turning the 90degrees was due to the spline head and lack of room (trying to keep the spline socket in the head).
Also wondering what prompted VW to change this ? My original tensioner when I removed the bolt was I reckon at 90degrees as was very similar to replacement tightness and had been there for 5 years.

 

[YellowHound]

Have just ordered a tensioner, securing bolt, and new belt to hopefully cure my twittering engine.
Baulked at being asked to pay £42-odd plus VAT for the VW belt and bought a Gates belt at just under £19 delivered.