auxilliary drive belt

I'm getting my cambelt (and tensioner) replaced by someone in the next week or so. Is it worthwhile getting the auxilliary belt (and tensioner) done at the same time?

How often should the aux belt be changed, and is it recommended to get the tensioner changed too?

Thanks,

Steve

there is little labour involved in doing the aux belt and its tensioner so it is something that can be postponed if its not strictly necessary.

Examine the belt on the ridged side, cracks in the ridges every few mm mean replacement time, some cracks are fine.......also check on the top/pivot point of the aux tensioner (viewable as it) there will be a pointer and 'goalposts' within which the pointer should be........as the belt stretches the tensioner turns and the pointer nears the outer limit.

Tensioner is usually replaced when the bearings gone (noisy) or it lacks the spring ot sufficiently tension the belt.........

Thanks scooter!

The aux belt has very regular cracking, so I'll replace it. Where should I be looking to check the tensioner? I'm not sure what the tensioner itself looks like or where it is.

follow the belt.........find the pulley mounted on the block (offset to the passenger side lower than the power steering and water pump pulleys)........belt comes up to it from the alternator at about 8-9 o'clock and goes almost right round it and back down to the crank pulley at 6-7 o'clock........

found it?

you see the aluminium mounting (points up and left 10-11 o'clock) and where its bolted to the block (almost dead centre)

The tensioner pivots around this point and its on the top of the ali mounting that you should see the 'goal posts'

if you have a 14mm spanner put it on the nut of this pulley, horizontally towards the battery and push down firmly and you start to release the tension on the belt and see the tensioner pivot etc........

Thanks for the description scooter, helpful as always! I'll have a look in the next couple of days.