Hi all,

Ive been trying to scource a belt tensioner for a 2001 1.9 Tdi Octavia and am kind of shocked at the prices ive been quoted for such a simple part. Stealer was just over 100 pounds? Has anyone found a cheaper option anywhere please?

Thanks in advance.

Lee 28

Hi all,

Ive been trying to scource a belt tensioner for a 2001 1.9 Tdi Octavia and am kind of shocked at the prices ive been quoted for such a simple part. Stealer was just over 100 pounds? Has anyone found a cheaper option anywhere please?

Thanks in advance.

Lee 28

I've just fitted one to a friends Bora 130bhp tdi, £51 from VW, euro were only a couple of quid cheaper for a copy.

Is yours bouncing and knocking on full steering lock or when the aircon is switched on? The tensioner cured this fault on the Bora

Same make as on the car.... £26 from my local motor factor, and the alt pulley was £24. Both just done to SWMBO's Octy.

TPS £54.85 (ex vat I suspect)

Sere motors £50.09

If it the 110bhp version then I found euro car parts were the cheapest (especially with the 25% discount using the code on here) and it was the same as the OEM one.

Note that the tensioner is very different from the one on the 130 PD engine, more complicated as it has the damper thingy, hence why Auroan got one a lot cheaper.

Note that the tensioner is very different from the one on the 130 PD engine, more complicated as it has the damper thingy, hence why Auroan got one a lot cheaper.

Ah yes, the PD one is just spring loaded

If it the 110bhp version then I found euro car parts were the cheapest (especially with the 25% discount using the code on here) and it was the same as the OEM one.

Note that the tensioner is very different from the one on the 130 PD engine, more complicated as it has the damper thingy, hence why Auroan got one a lot cheaper.

Whoops got the costs the wrong way round, GSF were cheapest (about £63) whereas ECP were about £84, but if you can get 25% off then ECP is about the same as GSF.

Also if your tensioner is knackered I would check the alternator pulley, it may have seized or the bearings are breaking down, my seemed OK but I changed the tensioner and it was still hopping around. When I got a new pulley and compared it to the old one you could tell it was on its way out.

Edited 15 September, 201114 yr by trundlenut

Whoops got the costs the wrong way round, GSF were cheapest (about £63) whereas ECP were about £84, but if you can get 25% off then ECP is about the same as GSF.

Also if your tensioner is knackered I would check the alternator pulley, it may have seized or the bearings are breaking down, my seemed OK but I changed the tensioner and it was still hopping around. When I got a new pulley and compared it to the old one you could tell it was on its way out.

Hi Guys,thanks for all the replies to my post. Much appreciated ! Trundlenut its a 90 bhp ALH and rather than belt jumping its more an intermittent squeek at idle. It often disappears if the weather is damp and at one point if one or two small drips of water were applied to the belt ( which made me suspect it was the belt at fault)so ive bought a new one from Jorily but not fitted as yet. I guess that it would make sense to do both belt and tensioner together rather than having to do separately. The alternator was replaced about 3 months ago and pulley seemed fine.

Thanks again for the input though,

Lee 28

I would suspect that the old alternator had done in the tensioner. Mine squeaked when the engine was cold too and did until I replaced the pulley.

On my car the damper on the tensioner had disintegrated inside and the grease had escaped from it.