Failed Hydraulic Timing Tensioner

[Alex3000gt]

While replacing some noisy lifters on my race car, my friend noticed the timing belt appeared slack around the water pump.

Dug into it a little further and found this:



Just installed this new in June, haven't even put 3,000 miles on it as the car sits in the garage most of the time. I am in contact with the seller (Parts Dinosaur) and am in the process of warrantying the part.

Looks like the tensioner blew a seal and leaked hydraulic oil. Luckily it did not jump time.

[MR2]

Daaaaaaaamn. lucky catch, go buy a lottery ticket.

[Alex3000gt]

Daaaaaaaamn. lucky catch, go buy a lottery ticket.

That is what I said. This is a lucky motor. When I did the timing in June the tensioner (who knows how old it was) had also failed.

Lightning does strike twice.

[green-lantern]

Damn! I don't think I've seen one make a mess like that. Definitely a good catch!

[shmoo]

i have never been as deep as timing. can someone tell me what is wrong with this picture?

[Alex3000gt]

i have never been as deep as timing. can someone tell me what is wrong with this picture?

Of course, my friend.

Here is what the image "should" look like. Find the difference between this one and the picture above:



The metal "plunger" has completely depressed into the tensioner housing. This happened because a seal failed and all of the hydraulic fluid inside the tensioner leaked out - preventing the tensioner from applying force on the "plunger".

[Alex3000gt]

Pic as the car is right now.

[BigTyla]

Nice find!

[$$$PIT]

I had that happen to me on an aftermarket tensioner. But never on an OEM tensioner. Which was yours?

[Primus101]

You do realize it's quite normal to have the belt loosen up around the waterpump after parked for a bit, right? The tensioner gets compressed from the sprung valvetrain(front head) pulling on the belt. Was it obvious that it was leaking? The tensioner has a heavy spring in it that applies pressure on the plunger- the hydraulics are to dampen the movement.