How to Replace Serpentine Belt Tensioner 1998-2005 Volkswagen Beetle
Created on: 2011-12-31
Watch this video to learn the steps needed to replace the serpentine belt tensioner on your 98-05 Volkswagen Beetle.
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step 1 :Accessing the Tensioner
- Remove the engine oil dipstick
- Pull off the plastic engine cover
- Insert the oil dipstick
- Pull the radiator hose aside for better access
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step 2 :Testing the Belt Tensioner
- Pull on the belt by hand to test tension
- If the belt moves by hand, the tensioner is worn
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step 3 :Removing the Belt Tensioner
- Attach a 13mm socket with ratchet and extension or vise grip pliers to the tensioner knob
- Pull the tensioner aside to release tension from the belt
- Pull the belt off the tensioner and the alternator
- Release the tensioner
- Remove the three 13mm bolts from the belt tensioner
- Pull the tensioner off, up, and out of the engine compartment
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step 4 :Installing the New Belt Tensioner
- Put the new tensioner into place
- Start one of the 13mm bolts by hand
- Start the other two 13mm bolts by hand
- Tighten the three 13mm bolts to between 25 – 30 foot-pounds
- Consult a belt diagram if necessary
- Attach vise-grip pliers to the tensioner knob
- Pull the tensioner aside
- Pull the belt over the alternator
- Release the tensioner
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step 5 :Reinstalling the Engine Cover
- Remove the oil dipstick
- Put the plastic engine cover back on
- Insert the engine oil dipstick
Tools needed
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13mm Socket
Socket Extensions
Ratchet
13mm Wrench
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Hi, I'm Mike Green. I'm one of the owners of 1A Auto. I want to help you save time and money repairing or maintaining your vehicle. I'm going to use my 20-plus years experience restoring and repairing cars and trucks like this to show you the correct way to install parts from 1AAuto.com. The right parts installed correctly: that's going to save you time and money. Thank you and enjoy the video.
In this video, we're going to show you how to replace the serpentine belt tensioner on this 1998 Volkswagen Beetle. This vehicle has the 2.0 liter. The only tools you'll need are a pair of locking vice grip pliers and a 13mm socket and ratchet or a wrench.
First, start by pulling your oil dipstick out and pull up on this cover and remove it. Put the dipstick back in so nothing gets in there. Now, looking down here, here's your tensioner, right here. I'm just going to pull this hose up out of the way. Here is your tensioner, your belt goes right around here, and the alternator right here. What you can do is reach right under and if you can pull on your belt and you can see the tensioner move at all, you know that it's weak and It needs to be replaced. To remove the belt, you take a socket. It goes right onto this knob right here with an extension and then just pull it like that and then just reach right around your alternator and pull the belt off your alternator. Then, you can carefully let your tensioner back up.
There you saw me do it with a socket and extension, now you can also use a pair of vice grip locking pliers and lock on to that square that's on top of the tensioner and release the tension from the tensioner that way.
You can just leave the loop right down like that. Your tensioner is held on by three bolts here. Use a 13mm socket with a small extension and a ratchet. You could use a wrench as well. I'm just going to fast forward as I remove those three bolts. Like I said, use a 13 mm socket with a ratchet and extension. You could also use a 13mm wrench. These bolts should not be too tight. Once you take the bolts out, you're going to slide down under that bracket, up and out.
The new tensioner from 1A Auto is just like the old one. Put it down and underneath and bring it back up and let's start the bolt that goes to that bracket first. We'll speed up here again. For those bolts just put them in by hand first, thread them in most of the way and then tighten them up with your wrench. You want to tighten them probably about 25 to 30 foot-pounds. Here's a belt diagram and really all you need to do to take the tensioner off is to just take it off the alternator on top but if you did happen to take it off all the way, this will help you get it back together correctly. The nub on the new one is slightly smaller so I just went to a pair of vice grip pliers, push them down, pull out your pin and slowly let the tensioner do its work. Remove your oil dip stick and put your cover back on. It slides into a little cushion in the back and then two in the front. Once you've got that you put your oil dip stick back in and you're all set.
We hope this video helps you out. Brought to you by www.1AAuto.com, your source for quality replacement parts and the best service on the Internet. Please feel free to call us toll-free, 888-844-3393. We're the company that's here for you on the Internet and in person.
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