Hey new to this forum, looks like an awesome resource for dodge enthusiasts!

I've got a 1998 Durango 5.2L with 175k miles. Runs great. I love this truck.
Anyway, I have this issue where the belt squeaks pretty bad when idling or coasting... I popped the hood and the tensioner is shaking/rattling quite a bit. Is that normal? The belt is not terribly old, maybe 15k miles. I inspected it for damage and didn't see any. I also had the tensioner replaced around 130k miles, but since then I have learned to do my own repairs so I have no idea why it was replaced before, this is somewhat new to me.

So, I'm looking around at parts to possibly replace the tensioner if that's the problem and it looks like there's tensioner pulleys and tensioner assemblys which are 3 times the cost of the pulley. What's the difference? Thanks!

 

Nope. Not normal. Idler Arm tension pulley was replaced on mine years ago. Problem solved, relatively cheap. Get the Goodyear Gatorback belt when you go back on with it.

HTH,

IndyDurango

 

I am partial to using Gates belts myself.

 

Grasp the Tensioner Pulley with the belt removed and check that there is good tension through out the arm traveling distance and that the bearing is good and doesn't move. Grasp the pully and check for any movement that could be deep in the bearing.

The other thing it could be and I would change them out together is the Idler Pulley.