31251251 Tensioner Pulleys Replaceable?

[petrohl34d]

I see the pulleys for these tensioners are available individually on eBay.

Are they easily replaceable on this unit?

[cheshired5]

Originally Posted by petrohl34d

Are they easily replaceable on this unit?

Yes they bolt on and off very easily, 14mm from memory but check and newer ones generally have a torx bolt.
Only use INA pulleys who make the genuine Volvo ones.

The question is more, why would you want to put fresh pulleys on an old tensioner unit?

[oragex]

Don't buy anything 'no name' from Ebay. They will fail and will ruin your D5 engine. As above, use only the INA brand.

[petrohl34d]

Originally Posted by cheshired5

The question is more, why would you want to put fresh pulleys on an old tensioner unit?

Tensioner is working fine as far as I can see. I seems wasteful to have to throw away the whole thing just because the pulleys need replacing.

Your recommendation would be to just buy a whole new unit?

[reggit]

Without a doubt buy the complete assembly from a reputable brand. First thing I do when I get a replacement car, then you know the weak point of the engine is good for a long time.

[cheshired5]

Originally Posted by petrohl34d

Tensioner is working fine as far as I can see. I seems wasteful to have to throw away the whole thing just because the pulleys need replacing.

Your recommendation would be to just buy a whole new unit?

Not my recommendation but Volvo's and it's always made sense to me so I follow it.
The only timing/auxiliary failures I've ever been aware of were when the job is either half done or it's done using inferior parts.
Dependant on engine/chassis number, the new tensioner unit either comes with 2 new pulleys fitted or one pulley and you buy the second pulley separately.

The tensioner quite rightly is working fine right now because Volvo specify high quality parts which aren't on their last legs at change time but it's unlikely to last another 10 years or 96k miles.
You can either cross your fingers and check the tensioner weekly or you can replace it and forget about it.

[cheshired5]

The 1251 and 1252 tensioners side by side.

[oragex]

While there, test all other pulleys on the belt - alternator and compressor - there have been many D5 engines blown by failed serpentine belts that wrapped on the crank pulley and bent the valves

[Georgeandkira]

Nobody needs me chiming in but I gotta add.
I was in the OP's camp when my '02's tensioner pulley became a wobbly mess at 185K.
It's bearing just plain wore away. I was surprised it still stayed in place. I'm so glad it became noisy.

The NAPA store had the pulley and the entire assembly was only $5 or $8 more!
The counterman urged me to do the whole thing so I did.
It seemed inexcusably wasteful and downright stupid to me but all the guys there are OK.
I mean, how do you go wrong at Hometown Auto Parts?

My replacement was a Gates from Canada.

I later heard that the spring inside is as vulnerable to rusting, cracking and failing as any hunk of metal can be so change it.

[petrohl34d]

Great advice guys, thanks!

I got this one off ebay for a reasonable £35

INA part number 30757282

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/233347469658