Sounds like you need to replace it. If it won't move down, it won't be able to do it's job of keeping tension on the new belt. Are you sure you are on the tensioner?

 

I hope this is related....had the timing belt replaced and now have a belt squeak which I assume is the serpentine. Does it need to be tightend or loosened? Thanks.

 

...When I loosened the tensioner nothing happened....

Did you pull the wrench counterclockwise? The movement is slight and, if I recall correctly, the pully sort of squats downward rather than swinging like its on the end of a pendulum.

 

It is on reverse thread. If you pulled it the "normal" way you would have loosened the bolt holding the tension spring. This would cause it loose its tension.

 

Thanks for the pic. This is the bolt/pulley I loosened but nothing moved. I removed the the pulley completely and I can see where the tensioner is in its highest position. I tried to force it down but it seems to spring back to the upper most 'stop'. Is there a spring inside? This 15 min job has turned into much more.

 

If you removed the pulley (and not the whole tensioner assembly), then you had to turn the bolt clockwise.

Based on your description, the tensioner appears to be in working order. So all you got to do is put the pulley back on. When you tighten the bolt, the pulley should squat downward, giving you enough room to install the serpentine belt. Even if the tensioner is in perfect working order, you still need to jiggle and wiggle the belt into place. The final install step should be to slide the "slick" side of the belt up over the slick pulley behind the fan.

You need to make sure that the bolt through the pulley is good and tight. Otherwise, it will work loose, screw up your new belt, and put you back to square one.

Like you said, this is a 15-minute fix.

 

Thanks for the advice. I'll try that as soon as the rain stops.

 

I've decided to tackle this project today. I read up on it, got the tensioner tool from autozone, got the right belt (more or less). Either way, when i get the tensioner tool onto the nut that sticks out from the tensioner pulley, I can't get the tensioner to budge. I've got a habit of forcing things and breaking them, so maybe i'm just being too cautious. It appears that i need a 14mm wrench/socket to turn the tensioner. I've got the 2' handle and all that good stuff.
Am i going to break this thing?
any help is much appreciated. in the mean time, i guess i'll just keep looking at it until i'm struck by lightning. pff.
Oh, i guess i should include that i did look at the 'remo.pdf', and i'm working on the tensioner. I've changed out a the belt in a jeep grand cherokee before, and it was a very similar setup. I'm using a chilton's guide (or maybe it's haynes.)
thanks so much for the help.

 

page 2 and 3 explains operation and sounds like it is bad? check pdf ?

 

This is a copy of a post that i made under a different thread:
***
Ok, so I finally got my serpentine belt changed out. I do want to clarify something- my supercharger came WITH my tundra- so i have no experience with the install or the supplied parts.

After changing out 2 different belts and then putting the oem back on (last weekend), I finally got it done THIS weekend. What worked best for me was that I ordered the part from my local dealership- and it was the same price as the gatorback and the gates that I had tried before. It's a 2700mm.
The part #:
PTR30-34046
description: TRD Belt SC 47 04 TU

I ordered it on tuesday afternoon, and it was ready for pickup on thursday. It IS still a snug fit. But even with my limited car repair experience, I was able to remove the old oem, and get this one on by myself.

I hope this info is helpful.

Marcus

 

Yes, it is a 14mm bolt and you need to pull counterclockwise on the pulley bolt to move the pulley out of the way. You need no other tools. Unless the tensioner is really, really easy to move, it should be fine. It's a replacement item at 90k miles along with the rest of the stuff at the front of the engine and honestly it can probably go significantly longer.

You shouldn't need to touch anything else on the truck...it's about a 15-20 minute job. I do find it's easier to move one of the hoses out of the way, 10mm socket removes the bolt holding it in place behind the fan shroud.

 

my idler pulley bolt is loose. the one you use to release tension. did i strip the threads? what to do