When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Forgot, the car is a 2017 Stingray. Additionally the tensioner is designed to absorb four cylinder pulses (evidently the uneven power pulses in four cylinder operation need dampening), the oil keeps the tensioner’s internal spring from bouncing creating noise. I never operate in the four cylinder mode, go figure.
its got nothing to do with the 4cyl activation, mine never goes off and my tensioner crapped out at 10k miles, its a common problem gm obviously used a shitty source for these things.
The fluid in the tensioner acts more like a damper than a hydraulic pressure system. It helps to reduce resonance and oddly, cut the noise and vibration down.
TEXHAWKO, My C7 was built in May 2014 sequence # 26624. I've had no problem with my belt tensioner so far..
I too have a 2014, but I'm not sure when it was built. I do remember the salesman I bought it from told me that it was the 28,000th something that was built. I have had no problems with anything, including the belt tensioner.
I have a 19 GS. At about 12 K miles heard whining sound from engine. Technician said it was belt tensioner. Specifically: Tensioner Assembly-Drive Belt, GM# 12686272. It was leaking slightly too. Replaced under warranty. Agree-- part not expensive-- I see it for around $63. I guess I'm thankful that whining sound wasn't something more serious.
I too have a 2014, but I'm not sure when it was built. I do remember the salesman I bought it from told me that it was the 28,000th something that was built. I have had no problems with anything, including the belt tensioner.
Open the driver door and look at the silver sticker on the door edge. You will need to bend over to see it on the edge of the door below the latch. The month/year of assembly are on that sticker along with the VIN.
Mine was leaking ('14) at 10k miles but wasn't making noise. Original damper had the rubber boot, and the newer unit is some kind of hard plastic cover instead of the softer rubber boot. Not sure if the internal spring got redesigned as well. Either way, it broke upon install when taking tension off the pulley to mount the belt (due to the shitty material/casting), so I had to scavenge the original pulley assembly and bolt the new damper to it. Real PITA due to my ProCharger brackets being in the way, not giving much room at all to get a breaker bar on the tensioner pulley.
Took my 2019 GS in to the dealer for rattling noise and they told me it was the belt tensioner.
At least it will be replaced under warranty.
Reading the forum, it doesn't look like the part was reengineered to not to break down.
So to those that have had this part replaced, has it happened again?
Mine is at 17k miles. Will I have to replace it in another 17k?
I had my belt tensioner replaced at around 12 k miles on my 19 GS in 2022. It was still under the 3 year btb warranty so no charge to me. It was not a rattling noise however. More like a whining noise. I sold the car at 18 k miles (and replaced with a 19 Z06 with 9.2 k miles). No issues up until that time on the GS as you'd expect and no issues, to date, on the 19 Z06.
I just replaced mine this week - I have a 2016 Z51 with 46K on the clock. Here is a pic of the updated version on left, versus what I think is the old/original version on the right. Obvious difference on the spring/cylinder cover. The old cover was more a pliable rubber feeling and the new one is a harder material. Mine wasn't making a noise, just a little greasy. I'm into preventative maintenance and figured I'd get it done and call it good for awhile while I had it up on the QuickJacks.
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19-
'20-'21-'22-'23-'24
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
Getting ready for my annual oil change on my 2014 and I will make a point of checking the tensioner. My car only has 6900 miles on it so it may be way too early for this part to go bad.
2014 with 85K miles here, Just finished installing my 4th tensioner, the part hasn't been revised, so I just expect replacing it every 20K or so, 1st time the dealer replaced it under warranty, the next 3 times I did it myself. The rattling from V4 to V8 at low speeds was the shock leaking, this 4th time was the bearing, whirling noise that went up with the rpm's specially on a cold start.
Replaced mine on my 2015 at 32k miles. Was leaking.
I saw a post above that said you have to take it out from the bottom but that's not true. I was able to remove it with the car on the ground from the top. Even with an A&A blower on.
“GM recommends replacing the belt every 10 years or 150,000 miles, whichever comes first.” I'm sorry, but I don't accept it. I change my belt every 5 years for safety. Is there anyone who agrees with me?
“GM recommends replacing the belt every 10 years or 150,000 miles, whichever comes first.” I'm sorry, but I don't accept it. I change my belt every 5 years for safety. Is there anyone who agrees with me?
I think it's good practice to replace the belt when replacing a leaking belt tensioner. The reason is that since the damping of the tensioner is drastically reduced, the belt undergoes stretching cycles and is not good for the belt at all.
“GM recommends replacing the belt every 10 years or 150,000 miles, whichever comes first.” I'm sorry, but I don't accept it. I change my belt every 5 years for safety. Is there anyone who agrees with me?
06-24-2021, 09:18 PM
