New to the Avensis Club! Squeeky Aux Belt Question

[Littlehomer]

Hi All,

I used to have an old Volvo V40 and was very active on the Volvo forums a long long time ago. So hoping that I can enjoy this community with my new purchase after having had company cars and newer vehicles for over a decade.

After changing job and swapping my Skoda Octavia 2018 VrS for a Nissan Leaf, it turned out that I was still needing to do the motorway miles, despite assurances I wouldn't. So I've gone and picked up a 2010 Avensis estate to avoid having to use a small Skoda Fabia I have as my runabout. The wife has the Leaf.

Anyway, it was a bargain in my head. Without wanting to spew too much detail, I broke two rules when buying a car. It only has its most recent service history. Thankfully all with Toyota main dealer. Handily they've listed out all the things "wrong" with the car in their reports. So I'm currently fixing them bit by bit. (The other rule I broke was to buy a car full of electric gizmos).

Top of that list is a squeaky belt when the car is cold and revved at a standstill. The suggestion from Toyota is that it needs a new aux belt tensioner (or at least the pulley on the tensioner?).

I've watched a load of videos and scanned the forums, all I can find are guides on changing the belt itself. It's clear that space is tight and it's a fiddly swap.

So the question is, how difficult or easy is it to change the tensioner after the belt is off? Does the forum have a guide for this? Or should I just change the pulley and is that easier?

Many Thanks,

Daniel

[2009joe]

4 hours ago, Littlehomer said:

Hi All,

I used to have an old Volvo V40 and was very active on the Volvo forums a long long time ago. So hoping that I can enjoy this community with my new purchase after having had company cars and newer vehicles for over a decade.

After changing job and swapping my Skoda Octavia 2018 VrS for a Nissan Leaf, it turned out that I was still needing to do the motorway miles, despite assurances I wouldn't. So I've gone and picked up a 2010 Avensis estate to avoid having to use a small Skoda Fabia I have as my runabout. The wife has the Leaf.

Anyway, it was a bargain in my head. Without wanting to spew too much detail, I broke two rules when buying a car. It only has its most recent service history. Thankfully all with Toyota main dealer. Handily they've listed out all the things "wrong" with the car in their reports. So I'm currently fixing them bit by bit. (The other rule I broke was to buy a car full of electric gizmos).

Top of that list is a squeaky belt when the car is cold and revved at a standstill. The suggestion from Toyota is that it needs a new aux belt tensioner (or at least the pulley on the tensioner?).

I've watched a load of videos and scanned the forums, all I can find are guides on changing the belt itself. It's clear that space is tight and it's a fiddly swap.

So the question is, how difficult or easy is it to change the tensioner after the belt is off? Does the forum have a guide for this? Or should I just change the pulley and is that easier?

Many Thanks,

Daniel

quick question is it a genuine toyota belt as i was catting with a few taxi guys and they had a annoying squeak with there car a 2.0 d4d toyota avensis and well the garages he went to couldnt find any faults so he said he knew it was going to be expensive so he brought it to a toyota dealer low and behold it was those motor factor non genuine toyota belt that was causing the problem 

[Littlehomer]

Great question! I'll check. 

I'm hoping its the belt and nothing more sinister.

I've always used a Gates or Continental belt. But if the genuine article clears it up, I'm totally up for that.

Thank you!

[Bper]

Hi Daniel, welcome to to the forum lots of good advice when you need it and always welcome when you give it.

I think we're all guilty of making some mistakes at one time or another when buying a car. The questions we should have asked but just went out of our heads at the time. Well at least it's not terminal so that's a positive.

The members on here will always try to help you with any problems you may have.😄

[Littlehomer]

Thanks Bper! 

Fingers crossed I can be of some assistance as I learn the car. 

The car has gone for a pair of ball joints, track rod ends, tracking / alignment and 4 tyres today. Which I knew about.

Past the squeaky belt, small oil seep on the sump (which I'll do when it needs an oil change) and the headlights needing a refresh, it's all looking good.

[avetoy]

I´m sorry, I don´t have answer to your question about changing the tensioner, but

I think you should find out by yourself where the sound comes. You could use a plastic hose to listen around the belt?

[APS]

20 hours ago, Littlehomer said:

So the question is, how difficult or easy is it to change the tensioner after the belt is off? Does the forum have a guide for this? Or should I just change the pulley and is that easier?

First establish whether the squeaking comes from the belt or the tensioner. The fact that you say it's only when cold and revving, would indicate it's the belt. A quick spray with a silicone lubricant on the belt while running, will silence (or at least alter) any belt squeal. If the noise doesn't change at all, then it's likely a tensioner bearing. 

Edited March 21, 2023 by APS
typo

[Littlehomer]

Hi all!

So thanks for the assist 🙂

It wasn't the belt. It is the tensioner.

The car had a back to front go-over, suspension parts, tyres, brakes etc. 

I drove it for the first time today for 20 miles and it blew and injector seal.

Gutted. So its got to go back for that. Then I might be able to get some use out of it.