I've managed to trace a rattle to the aux belt tensioner on my 1.9TDi 110bhp engine. I was wondering how serious this is. Do I need to immediately replace it or will it last a good while before needing any work?

Dealer in Leicester quoted £92 for a replacement part and I'm quite happy to fit it myself.

Personally I would get it done ASAP.

You don't want the aux belt to break as it could enter the timing system, throwing the timing belt.

iirc there is a cover over the timing belt, and the aux belt is outside of that, so unlikely to throw anything. But better to change it soomer rather than later I would have thought. How many miles has your TDi done? I am on my original tensioner at 150k.

iirc there is a cover over the timing belt, and the aux belt is outside of that, so unlikely to throw anything. But better to change it soomer rather than later I would have thought. How many miles has your TDi done? I am on my original tensioner at 150k.

Yes there is a cover, but if the belt breaks whilst at high revolution, the wipping force generated is enough to smash through the timing belt cover!

There is also nothing stopping the belt entering the bottom of the casing at the crank end.

I have seen both cases on many occasions.

I know what I would rather replace! And it would be my drive belt and tensioner....especially given that the drive belt is set at around four times the tension of the timing belt.

Edit: And you are lucky yours has lasted that long to be honest.

just gone over 141k, no sign that it's been changed before. Suppose I'd best get it sorted then...