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Tried a cheap serpentine belt tensioner and lost $80 plus my Saturday

Bought a no-name tensioner off Amazon for $18 instead of the ACDelco one for $55. Installed it on my 2008 Silverado last Friday. Within 40 miles, the pulley started wobbling and the belt slipped off. Had to tow it home and buy the proper part, wasted 6 hours extra work. Anyone else get burned by cheap tensioners or is it just me?
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3 Comments
the_stella
$80 isn't bad for a weekend lesson honestly, some folks learn that on a $150 alternator or water pump instead. Gotta say though, a slipping belt on an '08 Silverado is almost a rite of passage with these trucks. Next time just grab the ACDelco and save yourself the headache.
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karen_roberts4
I mean @emery199's right that you get what you pay for, but $18 is still a gamble I'd never take on a tensioner.
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emery199
emery1998d ago
Is an $18 part really that surprising to fail?
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