Audi VW Accessory Drive Belt Tensioner - Hutchinson T4034

Product Information

Accessories such as alternators, power steering pumps, water pumps, and A/C compressors are commonly powered by an accessory drive belt, also sometimes called a serpentine belt. For these to all function correctly, an accessory drive belt tensioner applies the proper amount of tension on the belt to keep it from slipping and ensure the entire system is running smoothly.

There are three main styles of accessory belt tensioners, the most popular being the “Automatic” tensioner. An automatic accessory drive belt tensioner is spring-loaded to maintain constant tension on the belt. Some European cars use a hydraulic-style tensioner, which is slightly more complicated but less prone to bouncing or vibrations if one of the accessories is not in top shape. Finally, a manual accessory drive belt tensioner uses a screw and an arm that needs to be manually adjusted. These are usually found on classic cars and need to be checked as part of regular maintenance.

When an automatic tensioner is failing, you will notice an abnormal amount of bouncing or vibration, usually in conjunction with a bad pulley bearing. Hydraulic tensioners will fail similarly, by losing their ability to damp the vibrations in the system and begin to bounce. Sometimes they can also leak, although the amount of fluid in a hydraulic tensioner is small, so it would be hard to detect. If your belt system is bouncing or wobbling due to slack in the tensioner, replace the tensioner and associated components to do a full belt service.

• Slack in the belt: If the accessory drive belt tensioner is going bad, you will notice the belt bounce and hop due to the inability of the tensioner to apply even constant pressure.
• Pulley Bearing Failure: Many accessory drive belt tensioners have a pulley integrated into the assembly. If the pulley bearing goes bad, it will cause inconsistent or excess resistance on the belt which will inhibit the ability of the tensioner to apply constant tension on the accessory drive belt
• False positives: Occasionally if another component is going bad within the accessory drive belt system, such as a power steering pump or A/C compressor, it can cause intermittent drag on the system that will appear as a faulty belt tensioner. If your belt is not running smoothly, check all the other accessories and idler pulleys to make sure they are smooth.

About Hutchinson

Hutchinson's roots derive from back in 1853 when Hiram Hutchinson entered the shoe market under the brand name à l'Aigle. The company took its fist steps in 1860 to open up its third factory in Mannheim, Germany, selling to the Central European Markets. 30 years later the company began making bicycle tires in addition to the shoe manufacturing. It was 13 years later that Hutchinson realized that rubber can be used for everything and that they could produce much more such as automotive car tires. coated fabric for airplanes, and dirigibles. By the 1920's, Hutchinson was manufacturing products within 10 segments: shoes, clothes, fabrics, cars, motorcycles, bicycles, heavy vehicles, balloons, heels and technical products. The best-selling products of the time are floor mats, Kégresse caterpillar track belts for Citroën, and seals for jars. Throughout the years Hutchinson had acquired several company's along with developing several new technologies including a process to get rubber to bond to metal via brass coating. Today The Hutchinson Group has become a specialist in elastomer applications for industry and the automotive sector developing new products including engine mounts for many European car makers.