A belt tensioner or/and idler pulley is a system that guides the serpentine belt and the timing belt on a car engine. The belt tensioner can be mechanic (spring-loaded) or hydraulic. The function of a pulley and a tensioner is to limit the belt slip. During the operation of the auxiliary drive system and as our vehicle's engine speeds up and slows down, the belt can stretch or even lose some tension, hence the importance of the tensioner pulley within this system.
The timing belt tensioner or serpentine belt tensioner is, therefore, an element responsible for exerting a regulated amount of pressure/tension on the belt and thanks to this the belt can rotate all those pulleys as needed.
Potentially, its main function is to guarantee that the belt has the optimum tension, although among its basic functions we also find:
Maintain the correct and tight tension on the pulley by compensating for any possible loss of tension in the belt.
Maintain correct alignment with the rest of the accessory belt drive system.
Avoid slipping and vibrations that cause premature wear of the elements and that avoid fatigue in the serpentine belt or the timing belt.
TSP has a complete range of belt tensioner, designed following the experience of original manufacturers such as Volkswagen, Mitsubishi, Chevrolet or Toyota to guarantee the best engine performance and the greatest comfort.