# 2003 Eurovan Tension Pulley - No grooves okay on aftermarket

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-eurovan-tension-pulley-no-grooves-okay-on-aftermarket/174630>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** volkswagen\
**Created:** [January 30, 2021, 10:02pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-eurovan-tension-pulley-no-grooves-okay-on-aftermarket/174630 "2021-01-30T22:02:07Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![jdcramp\_173736](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@jdcramp\_173736](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jdcramp_173736)\
**Post date:** [January 30, 2021, 10:02pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-eurovan-tension-pulley-no-grooves-okay-on-aftermarket/174630/1 "2021-01-30T22:02:07Z")

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The tension pulley on my drive belt tensioner disintegrated. VW only sells the whole tensioner with pulley. Dayco makes a pulley for it but it does not look like the original. The original had belt grooves and side rails to hold the belt. The Dayco one is smooth with not grooves or sidewalls, but says it is for the vehicle…will this really work?

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**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\
**Post date:** [January 30, 2021, 10:04pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-eurovan-tension-pulley-no-grooves-okay-on-aftermarket/174630/2 "2021-01-30T22:04:42Z")

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Yes it will really work.

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**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\
**Post date:** [January 30, 2021, 10:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-eurovan-tension-pulley-no-grooves-okay-on-aftermarket/174630/3 "2021-01-30T22:17:08Z")

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No, it won’t work.

Here’s the routing for the serpentine belt.

The tensioner is the upper left pulley.

 ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/d/d/dd126d7351e78819c65a8d0c70b5b159c9ef5aa7.png)

The pulley must have grooves, or the ribs on the belt will be worn off in a very short time causing the belt to slip.

Tester