Quote:
Originally Posted by Sugar Bear
Sounds as though you may have prevented a catastrophic engine failure if the tensioner fell out.
|
That thought gives me nightmares. Even with the alternator in its way to prevent it from falling out entirely, it could conceivably unscrew enough to cause serious damage -- assuming the massive oil leak that would occur first did not get my attention.
That thought also made me apprehensive about fixing it myself. There is a procedure that involves holding the exhaust camshaft stationary while turning the crankshaft about 5 degrees counter clockwise to put pressure on the chain guide, and thus the tensioner thrust pin, to unlock it. I was haunted by the possibility of that not happening, starting the car, and the engine being destroyed.
I am pretty certain I heard a click from the tensioner unlocking, just before hearing the click from the torque wrench that told me I had turned it far enough.
Overall an easy enough repair. The hardest part was reattaching the first bolt of the alternator while holding it in one hand and aligning and screwing in the bolt with the other, in a tight space.