Drive Belt Tensioner: Testing and Inspection

BELT TENSIONER INSPECTION - 2.3L
The automatic belt tensioner can be checked as follows:
1. With the engine running, observe belt tensioner movement
2. The belt tensioner should move (respond) when the A/C clutch cycles or when the engine is accelerated rapidly. If the belt tensioner movement is constant without A/C clutch cycling or acceleration, a pulley or shaft is probably bent or a pulley is out of round. In rare cases; excessive drive belt rideout (uneven depth of grooves in drive belt) can cause excessive belt tensioner movement. This condition can be checked by replacing the suspect drive belt with a known good original equipment drive belt and repeating the observation.