When i did my timing belt a year ago i felt the ac tensioner bolt stripping and left it alone to not break the bolt... i still need to change it but im wondering if anyone has had a similar problem and if it turned out to be the bolt that stripped or the hole in the block?

thanks

 

The two bolts that I had 'stripped' on my block ended up being the hole IN the block. I actually just re-tapped them. I'm NOT saying it couldn't be your bolt, but I'd be prepared to re-tap the hole...

 

dammit... that's what i'm afraid of. how much work was it, you pretty much have to remove everything in the front to get to it right? might as well do the timing belt while im in there again.

 

Mine wasn't the AC Pulley...if you can get to the HOLE where the bolt is without removing it all, you can get a re-threading tool in there...I take NO responsibility for suggesting this...re-threading is a little tricky sometimes....and takes patience and some skill....is this the pulley you're talking bout? #6 in the attached Pic? This is the compressor and pulley diagram for the ATW engine code of yours...looks like the tensioner has 2 bolts, right?

You won't know if it's the bolt or the block until you remove it...most times though....it is the block that's stripped.....but then again, I usually have bad luck....

 

I have the manual for removing that tensioner...it doesn't look like too much work....PM me your email address and I'll send you that section of the manual....

 

hey thanks man, so ya it's the #6 bolt... i cant get it tight to hold tension on the belt so it's on there a little loose and squeals when i turn it on at low speed or idle. it looks like it doesnt actually go into the block though, does it tighten down into the ac bracket?

 

Yes, the tensioner is bolted to the A/C compressor bracket.....