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General Information => Troubleshooting => Topic started by: wolf_walker on June 09, 2015, 12:58:53 am

Title: AAZ t-belt tensioner
Post by: wolf_walker on June 09, 2015, 12:58:53 am
So I gather the early AAZ had the regular 1.6L style tensioner, and the later had the early TDI style.

Any idea what was the motivation for the change between the two?
Is the later style just easier to correctly tension, with the alignment marks.

Can one retrofit the later tensioner to an AAZ? Since I can never, ever, ever leave well enough alone...

Title: Re: AAZ t-belt tensioner
Post by: burn_your_money on June 09, 2015, 08:11:12 am
They all used the same style tensioner.
Title: Re: AAZ t-belt tensioner
Post by: wolf_walker on June 09, 2015, 12:42:57 pm
Hmm, well mine is the manual 1.6 style, and I've read repeated reference to the later AAZ having the 1z/ahu style.

Question remains either way, are they interchangeable other than the size of the mounting stud, and what was the benefit
of the later design?  Ease of tension adjustment or something more tangible?
Title: Re: AAZ t-belt tensioner
Post by: vanbcguy on June 09, 2015, 03:06:21 pm
The lock hole for the tensioner tab probably isn't there on the earlier engines. But if it is then the main benefit is easy tensioning since it now has a gauge built in, plus it will maintain tension as the belt wears. Folks do recommend checking / adjusting the tension half way through the tbelt change interval.
Title: Re: AAZ t-belt tensioner
Post by: wolf_walker on June 09, 2015, 03:37:28 pm
So it is spring loaded to some degree?  It's been so long I can't remember on the one I did on that PD, if it's even the same setup.
Title: Re: AAZ t-belt tensioner
Post by: vanbcguy on June 11, 2015, 10:10:35 pm
Yup, there's a spring inside. It has a tension gauge built in too, super handy.
Title: Re: AAZ t-belt tensioner
Post by: burn_your_money on June 12, 2015, 07:48:30 am
Hmm, well mine is the manual 1.6 style, and I've read repeated reference to the later AAZ having the 1z/ahu style.

My mistake. I was thinking serp tensioner even though you clearly wrote t-belt.

Yes they are different and my understanding of why they changed was to do away with that special belt tensioning tool. The new style has a mark that lines up when you tension it properly.
Title: Re: AAZ t-belt tensioner
Post by: wolf_walker on June 12, 2015, 11:13:17 am
Ah-haa... That's good info.