I have been browsing the forums and have not seen a DIY for a 3.0 engine serpentine tensioner replacement. Does anyone know of a link or pictures of such?

I assume it is very similar to a 2.7 but I see that there are differences in the tensioner and mounting.

Does the bumper have to come off or am I okay with pretending to have skinny arms and just remove the fan?

2001 A6 3.0

Thanks.

Brent

 

Would that not fall in the timing belt replacement category?

I would look for that info for replacement of the tensioner is part of the timing belt job.

 

You might be able to do it without putting the bumper in the service position, but I can't. My arms won't fit and I don't have a lot of patience so I just pull the bumper cover out, easy to do.

The 2.7, 2.8 and 3.0 are all very similar in the way they are mounted to the front of the engine. If you can get the belt off with the bumper in place, than you have to get the long bolt out for the tensioner. Not sure you can get the long bolt all the way out so you can remove the old tensioner, let alone getting the new one into place if you get the old one out.

IIRC its only about 10 bolts to remove to put the bumper cover in the service position. Get a book so you know for your car exactly which bolts to take out.

Good Luck!