You can tell right away if the tensioner is working very simply. You should only be able to rotate the belt 1/4 - 1/2 twist.Take the belt and try to twist it. If it allows you to twist it more than 1/2 turn, and your belt looks in great condition, it is your tensioner. A lot of times, people just replace the tensioner, and that is not the problem, or it covers up the problem temporarily. Most times it just turns out to be a worn belt. The pulleys will sometimes have very slightly different width grooves. This, over time, creates slippage between the belt and pulley, if there is very little tension being supplied by the motor (like at idle). Putting in a new tensioner will just temporarily cover the problem up, or not even help at all.

Let us know what you do and what works for you.

 

My 108K 5.2L just went through the same ordeal. Blamed the 2yr. old belt and 1+ yr. water pump. Mechanic said it was tensioner and he was right. $200+ installed = fixed.

 

He charged you $200+ to install a belt tensioner?!? The parts probably only cost him $50 and probably took him 15 minutes to install. Ouch.

 

Virused......thanks for the info.....I'll give that a shot as well and let you guys know what happens!

 

could be your idler pully, thats about 30 bucks, mine seazed up one day in traffic and the belt busted. it had been making squeaking noises for a month or so before it broke

 

I have the same problem but only notice the squeeking when im idle? anyone know what to do?