2011 Kia Sorento - Belt Tensioner

Find A Replacement Belt Tensioner For Your Vehicle

The belt tensioner on your car's engine maintains pressure against the serpentine belt to keep it from slipping on the engine pulleys. Automatic belt tensioners are also spring-loaded, which allows them to maintain appropriate tension as the belt stretches throughout its life. In most cases, it is recommended that if your belt is stretched excessively and needs to be replaced that you also replace the belt tensioner at the same time. If your belt tensioner is worn out or failing, you may notice squealing from the serpentine belt when the car is running or when making a sharp turn, abnormal belt wear or shiny spots on the back side of the belt, or accessories like your air conditioner, power steering, or alternator may not perform at their best. Failure to replace the belt and tensioner when these symptoms occur could allow the belt to be damaged or slip off the pulleys, which can result in overheating, poor steering control, or other factors that may contribute to a dangerous driving situation. It's a good idea to replace your serpentine belt and tensioner at the appropriate intervals according to your service manual, and most belts and belt tensioners are designed to last between 60,000 and 90,000 miles. Regularly inspecting the condition and tension of your belt or belts can help keep you ahead of an inconvenient breakdown, so be sure to add belt and tensioner inspection to your routine maintenance checklist. At O'Reilly Auto Parts, we have belt tensioner assemblies and serpentine belts for most vehicles on the road today, along with idler pulleys, tools, and the supplies you may need to complete your belt repair or maintenance.