In order to maintain proper tension on your vehicle's serpentine belt, a drive belt tensioner is required. This is a pulley that is mounted on an adjustable pivot point or spring mechanism. If you open the hood of your car, you will see that the serpentine belt is located at the front of the engine. It is very long. The pulley itself is located on the outside of the belt, which is how it adds tension or pressure.

The problem with a drive belt tensioner is that once it goes bad, it usually means replacing the pulley and sometimes the drive belt itself. This is not usually a single part replacement job. While there is no set lifespan for a drive belt tensioner, it is recommended that you check it every time you perform routine maintenance on your drive belt system. This is a great way to detect early warning signs of any possible problems. It should be noted that the drive belt itself will most likely need to be replaced before the tensioner. The lifespan of a drive belt is usually between 40,000 and 70,000 miles.

There are not many warning signs that a drive belt tensioner has reached the end of its lifespan, in fact there is only one.

Once you start to hear grinding or squeaking noises from your engine, it is time to check the drive belt tensioner. You will hear this sound every time you start your engine.

As the drive belt tensioner continues to deteriorate, various aspects of the vehicle will begin to suffer. It can affect the alternator, power steering, and air conditioning since they are all powered by the drive belt. These problems will become increasingly noticeable.

The drive belt tensioner will wear out over time, and this is just normal wear and tear. It is best to check it every time you inspect your belt system. The goal is to replace it before it really deteriorates and causes your vehicle to run improperly.

If you experience any of the above symptoms and suspect your drive belt tensioner needs to be replaced, get a diagnosis or schedule a drive belt tensioner replacement service with a professional mechanic.