Timing Belt Tensioner

Yblocker

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1997 Passat
Is the information regarding obsolete vs newer timing belt tensioner a recent thing or have I managed to fall asleep in class again? The parts I just ordered for a timing belt service I need to do came with the older version (brown).
https://www.litensaftermarket.com/f...enspanner/VW_1.9L_TDI_installation_notice.pdf
Also. When I removed the old tensioner today, the locating tab was bent to the point of rubbing on the roller. I know about the issue of people not getting the tab into the recess when installing. I am pretty GD sure I did not do this 60,000 miles ago. The old belt looks great and was nicely centered on the cam and pump sprockets. Really wondering how how that happened....
I wanted to post pics but seem to have lost the ability (?). Was using phtotobucket.
 

Steve Addy

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Location
Iowa
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97 Mk3
Thanks for linking to the tech document, it's not something I'd read before but good to know anyway.

I have a little problem with the information they're putting out though. There's a suggestion in the doc that if your tensioner doesn't have a blue seal then it's junk, and that's not possible. I purchased SKF tensioners back in 2014 and they arrived with Litens tensioners, which I was hopeful would happen. Both of these were also dated very close to the time I bought them, maybe 2012 dating? Those two tensioners had brown seals, not blue, but I have to conclude that at such a late date (2014) the tensioner I got was absolutely ok.

I'm not sure that I would put a lot of faith in that tech document in 2018. I would check to see if my tensioner had other features that are talked about in there and I would look for a production date that was close to current, but I think we're well past the time when that tech doc applies TBH.

If you can post up a pic of the front of your new one (photobucket no longer good) then we can get a look at it and see how it compares.

Hope this helps!

Steve
 

ToddA1

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I’d guess the 20th or 38th week on 2005. Did you take notice that your old one had a silver tab... not black?

Where did that new tensioner get ordered from? The fact that it bears the VW/Audi logo tells me dealership? They usually wipe those markings off, when sold to the aftermarket.

NTN bearing and Litens tensioner.... I’d use it. I’m guessing that you ordered by part number?

-Todd
 

Yblocker

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Location
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1997 Passat
Not by pn... Ordered through Cascade, which is what I usually do.. I dunno...the only difference that might make a difference is the "shorter" spacer, though I've no idea what actual effect that has. The cross-hatched wear indicator doesn't seem too critical to have either.
 

Steve Addy

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Location
Iowa
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97 Mk3
To echo what Todd said, I'd probably use it too. The real question is whether the tech doc is making a mountain out of a mole hill?

As a side note I would also agree with Todd that it's odd to see VW / Audi insignia on aftermarket parts, they usually aren't there.

Steve
 

Yblocker

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Location
Oakland, CA
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1997 Passat
Agreed. I see no reason not to use the tensioner.
This is the belt Cascade sent:
 
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ToddA1

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'96 B4V, '97 B4 (sold), '97 Jetta (scrapped)
Interesting. Maybe Aaron is buying certain items at bulk pricing? Years ago I bought OE engine mounts from him. I believe he needed to order them from the dealer. He didn’t have them in stock.

-Todd
 

Abacus

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Relocated from Maine to Dewey, AZ
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Only the B4V left
I have two of those new Litens tensioners from him and they're also 2005 that meet the 'bad' criteria.

And I've done a bunch of timing belts using those same parts and never had a problem with any of them, including on my own car back in 2013, to which I asked on here about it. Annieneff posted asking the same thing in 2014, and it turns out many of us received them over the years.
 
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Steve Addy

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Iowa
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97 Mk3
I have two of those new Litens tensioners from him and they're also 2005 that meet the 'bad' criteria.

And I've done a bunch of timing belts using those same parts and never had a problem with any of them, including on my own car back in 2013, to which I asked on here about it. Annieneff posted asking the same thing in 2014, and it turns out many of us received them over the years.
I am continually amazed at your ability to locate old threads on here! I end up spending hours searching for crap and most often never finding it.

As I said in my post before, this could just be a mountain out of a molehill. I stand by my statement. When I'm next over at the garage I'll take a look and see what mfgr date is on the tensioners I got back in 2014.

Steve
 

Steve Addy

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Location
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97 Mk3
Reviving this thread because I'm ordering some parts and I'm curious about what people experienced with their Litens tensioners?

After rereading the pdf about the tensioners I have kind of concluded that if your tensioner had the black backing plate and locating tab that it was the old material and might be better off not to use. Would this be fair assumption?

Also, I'm still seeing Litens tensioners out there with brown seals and silver backing plates and I'm guessing that those are perfectly acceptable?

Any comments appreciated.

Steve
 

Steve Addy

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Location
Iowa
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97 Mk3
Here's why I won't switch to the new 48008 (038109243N) tensionser over the 48006 (028109243F)

The 48006 is on the left and the 48008 (equivalent) is on the right. Now I'm not a specialist about belt tracking by any means but I would say that the 48008 tens unit might cause some problems with that.

Rough guess is there is a 5mm difference in the placement of the roller but that's just using a small ruler.

If you're doing a belt change I would not follow the tech doc that says to use the 48008. Based on the the measurements posted with that doc I think we're either missing some info or the tech doc was hastily put out without the consideration it deserves.

IMO this could be catastrophic if a person used the 48008 in place of the 48006. The 5mm difference could guide the belt out and off the cam sprocket or move it into the upper timing cover grinding away at the side of the belt.

Steve

AHU/1Z/AFN (left) 028109243F (48006)
ALH (right) 038109243N (..243D, G, H, F) (48008)

 

ToddA1

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Well, I suppose I’m glad I was sent me the old style. Something to mention is, I ordered my INA based on the pic.... the seal was blue. When it arrived, it was the standard orange/brown seal.

-Todd
 

Steve Addy

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Joined
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Location
Iowa
TDI
97 Mk3
Well, I suppose I’m glad I was sent me the old style. Something to mention is, I ordered my INA based on the pic.... the seal was blue. When it arrived, it was the standard orange/brown seal.

-Todd
I just went back and looked again at the tech document and it doesn't apply to us. It might say 1996-2005 VW's but if you look at the illustration for the old / new tensioners the old (faulty) part is identified by 038109243G part number and that only applies here in the US to the MK4 cars or maybe a random Derby tdi that got brought in grey market (unlikely).

In the end this was all about nothing, the 038109243G(D,G,H,F,N) tensioner was never prescribed for the AHU/1Z/AFN engines so ignore this tech doc completely.

I will say that Litens should have clarified this based on the market, in Europe it's likely that there were cars back as far as 1996 that used the faulty tensioner, but not here in the US.

Steve
 
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