{"id":69138,"date":"2022-05-23T00:59:34","date_gmt":"2022-05-23T07:59:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogv2prod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/?p=69138"},"modified":"2024-01-19T03:19:48","modified_gmt":"2024-01-19T11:19:48","slug":"symptoms-of-a-bad-timing-belt-tensioner-and-faq","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/symptoms-of-a-bad-timing-belt-tensioner-and-faq\/","title":{"rendered":"Symptoms of a Bad Timing Belt Tensioner and FAQ"},"content":{"rendered":"<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\">\n<html><body><span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading Time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 4<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span><style>.kadence-column_e24ad9-05 > .kt-inside-inner-col{border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;}.kadence-column_e24ad9-05 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column_e24ad9-05 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column_e24ad9-05 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column_e24ad9-05 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column_e24ad9-05 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column_e24ad9-05 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column_e24ad9-05{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column_e24ad9-05 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column_e24ad9-05 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column inner-column-1 kadence-column_e24ad9-05 qk-look-widget\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ultimate-post-row ultp-block-cd1e1d  qk-main-wrap\"><div class=\"ultp-row-wrapper\"><div class=\"ultp-row-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ultimate-post-column ultp-block-b92d3d\"><div class=\"ultp-column-wrapper\"><style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading_6374fa-e9, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading_6374fa-e9[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading_6374fa-e9\"]{text-align:center;font-size:20px;font-style:normal;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading_6374fa-e9 mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading_6374fa-e9[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading_6374fa-e9\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-family:Inter;font-weight:500;font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading_6374fa-e9 img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading_6374fa-e9[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading_6374fa-e9\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"kt-adv-heading_6374fa-e9 summary-title wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading_6374fa-e9\"><span>Summary<\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>The timing belt tensioner secures the timing belt and keeps it tensioned.<\/li><li>There are hydraulic and mechanical timing belt tensioners.<\/li><li>The symptoms of a bad timing belt tensioner include an illuminated check engine light, engine performance problems, starting problems, and noises from the engine.<\/li><li>Driving with a bad timing belt tensioner can damage the engine.<\/li><\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>Vehicles have a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/timing-belt\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"timing belt\">timing belt<\/a> or a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/timing-chain\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"timing chain\">timing chain<\/a> inside their engine that&rsquo;s partnered with a timing belt tensioner. While timing belt tensioners are generally built to last for a long time, they can still fail. When they do, it can cause an array of engine problems. In this article, you&rsquo;ll learn about the symptoms of a faulty timing belt tensioner so that you can fix it before it worsens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Does a Timing Belt Tensioner Do?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>To understand the purpose of the timing belt tensioner, you&rsquo;ll first need to learn about the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/timing-belt\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"timing belt\">timing belt<\/a>. This part connects the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/crankshaft\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"crankshaft\">crankshaft<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/camshaft\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"camshaft\">camshaft<\/a>, which are separate components at the top and at the bottom of the engine. The timing belt is also responsible for keeping these parts in sync. The crankshaft is connected to the connecting rod and piston assembly, while the camshaft controls the intake and exhaust valves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/timing-belt-tensioner-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"timing belt tensioner\" class=\"wp-image-69215\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/timing-belt-tensioner-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/timing-belt-tensioner-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/timing-belt-tensioner-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/timing-belt-tensioner-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/timing-belt-tensioner-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/timing-belt-tensioner.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><figcaption>The timing belt tensioner connects the crankshaft and camshaft, and is also responsible for keeping these parts in sync.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The timing belt tensioner secures the timing belt and keeps it tensioned. Since the timing belt can stretch out over time, the tensioner pushes on a segment of the belt to ensure that there isn&rsquo;t any slack. Slack can cause the belt to slip on the pulleys or even come loose, which would cause a number of engine problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are two types of timing belt tensioners. Hydraulic tensioners use a piston to push on a lever or arm attached to the belt, while mechanical tensioners use a spring or a special tool instead to achieve the same result.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"article-search-widget\">\n<div class=\"cp-search\">\n<div align=\"center\">\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cld.partsimg.com\/image\/upload\/w_auto,dpr_auto\/carparts\/logos\/badge_wordmark\/full_color\/CP_LOGO_COLOUR_RGB\" alt=\"CarParts.com\" width=\"300\" height=\"56\">\n<\/div>\n<form id=\"cpsearchform\" name=\"cpsearchform\" action=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/search\" method=\"get\" target=\"_blank\" accept-charset=\"character_set\" aria-label=\"search CarParts.com\">\n    <input type=\"text\" class=\"keyword\" name=\"q\" placeholder=\"Search for parts on CarParts.com\" value=\"\" aria-label=\"Search CarParts.com\"><input type=\"submit\" class=\"btn-search\" value=\"Search\" aria-label=\"Search\">\n<\/form>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Bad Timing Belt Tensioner Symptoms<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Your vehicle might have a faulty timing belt tensioner if it exhibits one or more of the following symptoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><strong>Note:<\/strong> Other problems can mimic a failed timing belt tensioner. You or your mechanic should perform a thorough diagnosis before conducting any repairs.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Illuminated Check Engine Light<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The engine timing is constantly monitored by the powertrain control module (PCM) through the crankshaft and camshaft sensors. If the timing belt develops issues, the PCM will detect the timing changes and turn on the <a href=\"\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/check-engine-light-flashing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"check engine light\">check engine light<\/a>. It will also store a diagnostic trouble code.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Engine Performance Issues<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>To function properly, engines need a spark, a specific combination of air and fuel, and sufficient compression. Faulty timing belts can&rsquo;t open and close valves at the appropriate timing, resulting in a loss of compression. This results in an engine that performs poorly. Your vehicle might also have misfires and a rough idle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Starting Problems<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If the timing belt tensioner fails, it might cause the timing belt to break or become too loose to turn the camshafts. If this happens, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/my-car-wont-start-what-should-i-do\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"engine may not even start\">engine may not even start<\/a> because the valves are open when they shouldn&rsquo;t be, resulting in valve-to-piston contact and catastrophic engine failure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Various Noises Coming from the Engine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>When the tensioner becomes faulty, the belt and pulleys can generate high-pitched whining or chirping noises due to the belt rubbing on the pulleys. If the tensioner fails completely, the noise might escalate into squealing or grinding. If the timing belt tensioner is driven by oil, the noise might be most prominent during start-up, when oil is just beginning to circulate throughout the engine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Catastrophic Engine Failure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If some engines don&rsquo;t have proper valve timing because of a faulty timing belt tensioner, then it can cause the valves to hit the cylinder, which can cause catastrophic engine failure. These types of engines are called interference engines. Faulty valve timing in these types of engines can cause catastrophic damage and require an engine replacement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Timing Belt Tensioner FAQ<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"schema-faq wp-block-yoast-faq-block\"><div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1652957885079\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">What Causes Timing Belt Failure?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">A timing belt is typically made of rubber material with teeth on one side that transfers torque between various engine components. The rubber material will wear out with age and mileage due to the heat and friction inside the engine.<br><br>Rubber teeth can wear down and no longer be able to grip the gears. This frequently results in the timing belt sliding, which can potentially damage the engine. The belt can also crack under stress. The material can also crack because of mileage and age.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1652957896717\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">Can You Drive With a Bad Timing Belt Tensioner?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">You shouldn&rsquo;t continue to drive with a faulty timing belt tensioner. This can result in severe engine damage and might leave you stranded.<\/p> <\/div> <\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Where to Get A New Timing Belt Tensioner for Your Vehicle<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A faulty timing belt tensioner isn&rsquo;t the end of the world, but it will cause many problems for you and your vehicle. Your vehicle might display engine performance issues, make strange noises, and even have difficulty starting your vehicle. Fortunately, with the help of CarParts.com, finding a replacement timing belt tensioner is a breeze.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>All you need to do is use your mobile phone to visit our website at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"CarParts.com\">CarParts.com<\/a>. Input your vehicle&rsquo;s details into the selector, including the exact year, make, model, and engine. This way, you can easily check out our vast collection of compatible timing belt tensioners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Our parts are sourced from some of the best manufacturers in the industry. They&rsquo;re available at unbeatable prices to help you get more bang for your buck. We ship them from warehouses strategically located across the US to guarantee fast and reliable shipping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With this in mind, it&rsquo;s better to get your timing belt tensioner replaced sooner rather than later. Check out our collection of quality <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/timing-belt-tensioner\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"timing belt tensioners\">timing belt tensioners<\/a> at CarParts.com to help you get started with your vehicle&rsquo;s repairs.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading Time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 4<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span>Vehicles have a timing belt or a timing chain inside their engine that&rsquo;s partnered with a timing belt tensioner. While&#8230; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/symptoms-of-a-bad-timing-belt-tensioner-and-faq\/\" rel=\"nofollow\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":69214,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[52,3747],"tags":[3350],"ppma_author":[2607,2855,3742],"class_list":{"0":"post-69138","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-diy","8":"category-engine","9":"tag-timing-belt-tensioner","10":"entry"},"acf":{"adrotate_specific_mobile_ad":"","adrotate_specific_desktop_ad":""},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Symptoms of a Bad Timing Belt Tensioner and FAQ - In The Garage with CarParts.com<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The timing belt tensioner is a crucial engine component. Learn more about it and its possible symptoms of failure in this article.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/symptoms-of-a-bad-timing-belt-tensioner-and-faq\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Symptoms of a Bad Timing Belt Tensioner and FAQ - In The Garage with CarParts.com\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The timing belt tensioner is a crucial engine component. Learn more about it and its possible symptoms of failure in this article.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/symptoms-of-a-bad-timing-belt-tensioner-and-faq\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"In The Garage with CarParts.com\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/carpartscom\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2022-05-23T07:59:34+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2024-01-19T11:19:48+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/timing-belt-and-tensioner.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1500\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1000\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@carpartscom\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@carpartscom\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/symptoms-of-a-bad-timing-belt-tensioner-and-faq\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/symptoms-of-a-bad-timing-belt-tensioner-and-faq\\\/\"},\"author\":[{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"$id\":\"4\",\"name\":\"CarParts.com Research Team\",\"jobTitle\":\"Expert Automotive Writer\",\"description\":\"The CarParts.com Research Team is composed of experienced automotive and tech writers working with (ASE)-certified automobile technicians and automotive journalists to bring up-to-date, helpful information to car owners in the US. 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