Tensioner Pulley Replacement Cost

The tensioner pulley works with the tensioner belt to work the crankshaft and help the various parts of the engine to move. Once that pulley is damaged or loose, then you are going to have some issues with your car’s performance.

You will pay somewhere between $125 and $380 to have your tensioner pulley replaced. The labor should run between $45 and $155, while parts can cost as little as $85 or as much as $225.

Tensioner Pulley Replacement Cost Comparison

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What Is Tensioner Pulley Replacement?

Replacing the pulley should only take an hour or two, and the parts will vary in cost from one type of car to the next. How many parts need to be replaced and how long the repairs take will depend on how severe the damage is. If the pulley is simply loose, then replacing it will be simple and straightforward. If, however, the pulley has come off and parts are loose inside the car, then there could be a lot of damage that needs to be repaired.

Benefits of Tensioner Pulley Replacement

Getting the tensioner pulley fixed means that you will have a car that’s reliable and drivable. Until you get the issue resolved, you are just a short while away from major system failure and not being able to drive the car at all, so getting it fixed means peace of mind and a car that’s usable. You will also be protecting various related parts that could be damaged by excessive wear, once the tensioner pulley stops working as it should.

What Is Done during Tensioner Pulley Replacement?

To get the pulley off, the tensioner will have to be removed first of all. It may need to be held in place while it is unfastened. The new pulley can be put in place then, and the tensioners put back on. The fasteners will need to be tightened according to manufacturer specifications to ensure that they stay in place. The mechanic will have to manually adjust any non-spring tensioners, but spring tensioners will adjust on their own once the vehicle is running.

When to Get Tensioner Pulley Replacement

When the tensioner pulley is no longer smooth and taut, the engine will make clicking, chirping and grinding noises. That is probably your first indication that there is something wrong with the pulley or the belt. If you hear a loud clanking noise, then the tensioner may be knocking back and forth inside the car, and the spring may have come off.

You may be able to drive the car when the pulley is slack, but once it comes off, the car may not operate any longer. Since a slack pulley means that the entire thing could go at any moment, you are best just having it repaired as soon as you can and not driving it anymore until that happens.

The pulley will break down eventually, and you just have to make sure it gets inspected from time to time. If you do, you may be able to catch the problem early and save yourself some money.

How to Save Money on Tensioner Pulley Replacement

One of the better ways to save money on tensioner pulley replacement is to source the parts on our own. You may be able to find them at a lower price if you take time to look around and get some rates. You can also compare costs for mechanic labor to get the best deal on services for your vehicle with this particular job.

If you are inclined to do the work yourself and save money that way, then just make sure that you know what you are doing and that you know how to diagnose the issue. You can end up causing more trouble than you started with if you aren’t exactly sure what you do and how to replace the tensioner pulley. You may want to have a mechanic look over your finished results before you start driving the car much if you haven’t done many DIY car repair projects before.

Sample Tensioner Pulley Replacement Costs