Your car engine has many belts. One of them is the belt tensioner, which keeps the drive belt in its place, ultimately, allowing your engine to function as it should. Since the belt is made from rubber, it can deteriorate with age.
By the way, it’s positioned right next to the engine. So, it has to bear a lot of heat. So, usual deterioration is not out of the question. The general lifespan of a belt tensioner is anywhere between 3 to 5 years. As for the belt tensioner replacement cost, keep reading.
How Much Does Belt Tensioner Replacement Cost?
The cost of belt tensioner replacement won’t cause you to sweat bullets. Not exactly too low, but the repair cost should suit most wallets. It’s hard to provide the exact price. But then, it shouldn’t cost you more than $500.
On the lower side, you might have to spend only $125.
As you might know, the price of parts varies from one car to another. Of course, the labor fees are also not fixed. They vary from one auto repair shop to another. Mostly, the labor cost sits between $70 to $100 because it’s less than an hour’s worth of work. Sometimes, it can be more, though, which can cause the labor fees to creep up.
Auto Center | Price |
---|---|
Walmart | $50 - $215 |
Mr. Tire | $155 - $450 |
NAPA | $165 - $470 |
Your Mechanic | $170 - $480 |
Of course, it won’t be sky-high, assuming that you haven’t tortured your car. If it’s been a long time before you looked at the malfunctioned tensioner, it may have damaged other parts too. In such a scenario, you will have to pay for other repairs as well, depending on the parts damaged in the process.
How Does Belt Tensioner Replacement Procedure Work?
An experienced car technician will first inspect the car to evaluate the extent of damage caused by a broken belt tensioner. Then he will remove the damaged parts and replace them with new ones. Once the new parts are fitted, the technician will test-drive the car.
If everything checks out well, the car keys will be handed over to you so that you can drive home safely without any fuss. As long as the broken tensioner hasn’t caused other parts to go bad, it’s a fairly quick process.
How To Save Money When Replacing a Belt Tensioner?
If the belt tensioner goes bad, you will hear odd sounds coming from the engine. Regular car inspection will also allow you to catch the belt problem early, enabling you to save yourself from expensive repairs.
To cut costs, you can perform the repair on your own. That said, you should have the ability to not only fix the belt tensioner but also the other parts affected by it. If the vehicle needs to be towed, choose the closest mechanic.
Cost comparison will help as well. Here’s the thing; you should take quotes from all the nearest mechanics in your area to compare their prices. This will solve the annoyance of anyone overcharging you. Choose a repair shop that offers to get the job done at a reasonable price.