Accessory Belt Drive System
DriveAlign™ Automatic Belt Tensioner
Tensioners, like any other part, don’t last forever, and automotive technicians will be replacing more and more of them. A failed tensioner can cause the belt to break or fly off the drive, resulting in a breakdown. Often the cause is misdiagnosed as a belt problem, when in reality the tensioner should be replaced.
|
|
OE Fit, Not Retrofit
Gates® DriveAlign™ tensioners offer precise OE fit for a wide array of applications. With Gates® DriveAlign™ tensioners, you’ll get performance that’s equal to or better than the original. In fact, Gates® engineers analyse the failure modes of OE designs and make any necessary adjustments to match the performance of the original tensioner or even outperform it.
|
Proper Tension. Proper Performance.
The automatic tensioner is critical to the performance of the accessory belt drive system.
A wide array of problems can arise from an improperly tensioned serpentine belt:
› Insufficient charging of battery
› Loss of power steering
› False check engine lights
› A/C System to not perform optimally
› Noise
Understanding Why Tensioners and Belts Wear at the Same Time
What causes tensioners to wear?
Dirt and grime can get into tensioners, making the springs and dampers bind. Stop-and-go driving can cause varying engine loads which means irregular tension. An average tensioner will cycle 200 million times in its service life, adding to the general wear and tear.
What’s the best protection?
Because tensioners wear at the same rate as belts, the best way to make sure your accessory belt drive system will run at peak performance is to replace the tensioner with a new serpentine belt. To reduce belt warranty problems, comebacks and labor claims, Gates
® recommends that all Accessory Belt Drive System (ABDS) components, including the belt, tensioners, and pulleys, be replaced at the same time.
Understanding Belt & Tensioner Failure Modes