Swapped a belt tensioner on a '04 Tahoe and the new one seized after 200 miles

2 comments

2 Comments

Heard someone say the aftermarket tensioners are just junk now, especially the cheap ones from parts stores. Might be worth buying a genuine AC Delco one if you can find it.

derek_perez9d ago

Man, I went through three different aftermarket tensioners on my Silverado before I finally gave up. The first one from AutoZone started squeaking after like 6 months, then another one from O'Reilly had way too much play in the pulley from the jump. Finally bit the bullet and got the AC Delco one from RockAuto, and it's been dead silent for almost two years now. Sometimes you just gotta pay the extra $20-$30 for the peace of mind, especially when you're already elbow deep in the engine bay.