# Timing belt tensioner **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** intrepid, dodge\ **Created:** [October 28, 2009, 2:45am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/timing-belt-tensioner/38717 "2009-10-28T02:45:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mattet18](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/13edae/32.png) [@mattet18](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mattet18)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2009, 2:45am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/timing-belt-tensioner/38717/1 "2009-10-28T02:45:13Z")
It is time to replace my timing belt. I am planning on replacing the waterpump at the same time. Should I also replace the timing belt tensioner? ---
**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:** [October 28, 2009, 2:48am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/timing-belt-tensioner/38717/2 "2009-10-28T02:48:48Z")
That’s what a professional auto tech would do. Tester ---
**Author:** ![mattet18](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/13edae/32.png) [@mattet18](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mattet18)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2009, 3:19am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/timing-belt-tensioner/38717/3 "2009-10-28T03:19:44Z")
What else would a professional auto tech do? ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2009, 2:29pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/timing-belt-tensioner/38717/4 "2009-10-28T14:29:52Z")
Not sure every professional would do this… But look at replacing the drive belts and hoses and thermostat. They probably have to be removed anyways just to get to the timing belt. ---
**Author:** ![Rod-Knox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a183cd/32.png) [@Rod-Knox](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Rod-Knox)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2009, 2:31pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/timing-belt-tensioner/38717/5 "2009-10-28T14:31:50Z")
What are you working on? ---
**Author:** ![mattet18](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/13edae/32.png) [@mattet18](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mattet18)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2009, 3:03pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/timing-belt-tensioner/38717/6 "2009-10-31T15:03:06Z")
2002 dodge intrepid with 3.5L. with 106,000 miles What else should be done while having the timing belt replaced. Water pump? Tensioner? Serpentine belt? ---
**Author:** ![Wha-Who](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/9f8e36/32.png) [@Wha-Who](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Wha-Who)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2009, 3:08pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/timing-belt-tensioner/38717/7 "2009-10-31T15:08:31Z")
Do the timing belt tensioner too. If the ball bearing race in it fails, it takes out the belt. Same applies to the serpentine belt tensioner at around 100k miles. I recently replaced my serpentine belt for the second time at 140k miles. The tensioner ball bearing was rough when turned; I caught it just in time at 140k miles. ---
**Author:** ![Scudder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Scudder](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Scudder)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2009, 4:38pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/timing-belt-tensioner/38717/8 "2009-10-31T16:38:23Z")
Within reasonable cost I’d replace anything that would require timing belt removal in the future. Therefore water pump and definitely the tensioner. I think you have a hydraulic tensioner on that engine, you’ll need a good vice and locking pin to compress and setup the tensioner prior to re-installation with the new tensioning pulley. A lot of hydraulic tensioners have been replaced with the later mechanical type, if yours is mechanical - replace the spring if you can get it.