'93z n/a where's the t-belt tensioner?

IMD12C4INFO · #1 08-10-2006, 07:59 PM

This is probably a stupid question, but where exactly is the timing belt tensioner? I have a '93 z convertible that sprung a coolant leak on one of those two 3" long radiator hoses by the water pump. I had one of my guys take that all apart & replace them, & now I have some play in the timing belt way up on top. He didn't screw with any of the timing components, so if it's not a tensioner problem, I'm stumped. I have the 2 top timing covers off, & nothing I see appears to look like it has the capability of tensioning a belt. On 1st glance, I figured it was the one on top, in the center, but it doesn't appear to be spring loaded. That could be because it went bad, but I'm guessing it's more likely that it is maybe under the bottom cover, since the belt & tensioner were new 20k ago, & everything worked perfect before it was taken apart. I know I should have a manual, but until I can get one, can anyone give me some advice on how to fix my z problem? Thank you, Brett.

k3smostwanted · #2 08-11-2006, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IMD12C4INFO

This is probably a stupid question, but where exactly is the timing belt tensioner? I have a '93 z convertible that sprung a coolant leak on one of those two 3" long radiator hoses by the water pump. I had one of my guys take that all apart & replace them, & now I have some play in the timing belt way up on top. He didn't screw with any of the timing components, so if it's not a tensioner problem, I'm stumped. I have the 2 top timing covers off, & nothing I see appears to look like it has the capability of tensioning a belt. On 1st glance, I figured it was the one on top, in the center, but it doesn't appear to be spring loaded. That could be because it went bad, but I'm guessing it's more likely that it is maybe under the bottom cover, since the belt & tensioner were new 20k ago, & everything worked perfect before it was taken apart. I know I should have a manual, but until I can get one, can anyone give me some advice on how to fix my z problem? Thank you, Brett.

under the timing belt cover...anything that is a pulley that isnt a cam sprocket or crank gear is a tensioner. if i remember correctly, there are 3.

IMD12C4INFO · #3 08-11-2006, 12:48 PM

OK, I stopped at the Nissan dealer this morning. There aren't 3 tensioners, there is just one. The others are idler pulleys. The tensioner is the one near the bottom on the passenger side. It is under the bottom cover. How would I get slack in the timing belt? And more importantly, how do I get the slack out of the timing belt? I assume the tensioner is self adjusting? If it isn't, & it has to be manually adjusted, then that would be the likely problem, but I would highly doubt it has to be adjusted. The belt & tesioner were replaced 20k ago, so I can't imagine it just happened to go bad on the day I was working next to the timing components. Do any of the idler pulleys have adjustments? Anybody have suggestions or input? I'm stumped.

barkercustoms · #4 08-11-2006, 06:03 PM

how much slack are we talking about, dont the have just a tiny bit of slack. and who put the belt on was it someone that knows the 300zx or just your everyday joe that works on everything.

IMD12C4INFO · #5 08-11-2006, 06:45 PM

There's just a little bit of slack, but it's enough that the belt shimmies where the slack in the belt is. It makes a vibration sound that sounds like the teeth of the belt are rubbing somewhere, but I know that isn't happening because I can see the belt is making the noise where it has slack (I have the top 2 timing belt covers off). The vibration, & hence the noise, decreases a little when the car is running at higher rpm. I assume the belt tightens slightly? But as soon as it approaches idle, it makes the noise the worst. The belt & components were installed by Mossy Nissan in National City, California shortly before I bought the car. (I went from Minnesota all the way to San Diego to get the car) The receipt for the timing components & related work is for over $1900. They did more than just the belt & tensioner, of course. That was 20k ago, so that isn't the issue. It started doing this as soon as I started up the car after I had one of my employees replace the two 3" long coolant hoses right above the water pump when one of them sprung a leak. He didn't have any of the timing components off except the two upper timing covers, & as far as I know, he didn't loosen, or tighten, anything related to the timing components. But, it's too big of a coincidence that this happened immediately after replacing those 2 hoses. It wouldn't surprise me if he did mess something up, but I can't see, or even speculate about what it would be. He's not a mechanic by trade, but he does part cars out for me, & he does engine & transmission swaps, & general mechanic work for me at my business. (I sell a few cars & part out cars & sell the parts at my business).

robzone0911 · #6 08-13-2006, 11:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IMD12C4INFO

OK, I stopped at the Nissan dealer this morning. There aren't 3 tensioners, there is just one. The others are idler pulleys. The tensioner is the one near the bottom on the passenger side. It is under the bottom cover. How would I get slack in the timing belt? And more importantly, how do I get the slack out of the timing belt? I assume the tensioner is self adjusting? If it isn't, & it has to be manually adjusted, then that would be the likely problem, but I would highly doubt it has to be adjusted. The belt & tesioner were replaced 20k ago, so I can't imagine it just happened to go bad on the day I was working next to the timing components. Do any of the idler pulleys have adjustments? Anybody have suggestions or input? I'm stumped.

When I had my old engine out of my 96 convertible I had the top two covers off and on the passenger side just above the crank pulley, looks like a hydraulic type of tensioner. That was just a quick glance before I trashed the motor. hope this helps.

IMD12C4INFO · #7 08-14-2006, 05:06 PM

Ok, now I don't know WTF is up. I was just screwing around with it today, & I turned it over a few times, & now it seemed to tighten itself up, & seems to have the perfect amount of tension on it all the way around. I guess I'll put it all back togather, & hope it fixed itself. What kind of a stupid tensioner does this thing have that it would work this way?

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