Timing belt tensioner

[tanman]

I have a 2003 Baja and the local subie shop says a need to replace the
tensioner.My mileage is about 55k.Does that seem right or am I getting
hosed?Of course if it goes I'm in deep doo-doo.

 

[Jim Stewart]

I have a 2003 Baja and the local subie shop says a need to replace the
tensioner.My mileage is about 55k.Does that seem right or am I getting
hosed?Of course if it goes I'm in deep doo-doo.

My first response would be "hosed", but
then I don't know the whole story. Why
is your Baja at the shop?

 

[Todd H.]

I have a 2003 Baja and the local subie shop says a need to replace the
tensioner.My mileage is about 55k.Does that seem right or am I getting
hosed?Of course if it goes I'm in deep doo-doo.

My car's had about 5 or 6 of the goddamned things (only one of which I
had to pay for thank god). They're an achilles heel of the engine it
seems, and your engine wouldn't be too different I don't think.

Is your power train warranty still intact? You're under 60k.... I
can't recall the time limit on it if any.

 

[Fuzzy Logic]

I have a 2003 Baja and the local subie shop says a need to replace the
tensioner.My mileage is about 55k.Does that seem right or am I getting
hosed?Of course if it goes I'm in deep doo-doo.

I had it replaced under warranty on my '03 Impreza at about 25,000 Km. From what I understand there has
been 'issues' with the belt tensioner for quite some time. Here is an article describing the problem I had:

http://autorepair.about.com/library/a/1i/bl668i.htm

 

[CompUser]

I have a 2003 Baja and the local subie shop says a need to replace the
tensioner.My mileage is about 55k.Does that seem right or am I getting
hosed?Of course if it goes I'm in deep doo-doo.

Are you hearing any odd noises?

On my 2004 WRX, the smallest idler pulley started
going out around 50K...sounded like a
supercharger whine, getting louder and louder.
That idler spins faster than any of the others,
so it's the probably candidate for early bearing
death.

The timing belt kits on ebay come with OEM
tensioners...I got a kit with belt, tensioner and
all pulleys/sprockets for a bit over $300.

 

[tanman]

Are you hearing any odd noises?

On my 2004 WRX, the smallest idler pulley started
going out around 50K...sounded like a
supercharger whine, getting louder and louder.
That idler spins faster than any of the others,
so it's the probably candidate for early bearing
death.

The timing belt kits on ebay come with OEM
tensioners...I got a kit with belt, tensioner and
all pulleys/sprockets for a bit over $300.

Thanks for all the replies!
Basically I had the Baja in the shop to have the tires changed from
winter to summer.The mechanic made a note that the timing belt tensioner
needed to be replaced.Not being(at all)mechanically inclined I really
couldn't call him on it.I've always had the famous piston noise that goes
away after 10 minutes-on the other hand they did a major valve job about a
month ago which they covered under warranty.That gets me to thinking-why did
they cover one and not another?
Anyways it cost about $330.I really like the Baja and I wish they
still made it but I'm a bit concerned about reliability.Over the past 4
years it's been things here and there(leaky sunroof,noisy mirrors)but since
they were under warranty I didn't really mind espcially since the Baja was
just what I needed.Just hope nothing else major goes for a while.