Got my tensioners replaced this weekend which obviously were the originals. My '98 had about 90K miles on it. Notice that both have cracks on the back side and the right one is not fully extended. These issues weren't obvious until they were removed. I used the zip tie method. Thanks for all the tips especially on the right rear lower bolt and the nut on the dipstick!

 

I'm surprised you didn't get any funny noises from the slack in the chain on the side thats weak. Of course it may have been extending fully once pressurized.
I'm going to try and finally do mine this coming week as I have all the parts.


Dave

 

It did start making noise, not just at start up but randomly rattling pretty much all the time when I drove it one time last week. It may be that it was warmer and that caused whatever it is to make more noise. The culprit still may be the serpentine belt tensioner, but I got really worried last week.

 

After driving it today it is much quieter. The chains were rattling! I thought the fan belt tensioner was noisy, but everything quiet now. It was well worth the effort. Now I feel like I can drive anywhere

 

Congratulations Astrowing,
I changed mine out with 1/2 the mileage and they looked worse than yours. It's a good feeling not throwing the dice on every start up.

 

I also changed my secondary tensioners using the zip tie method on my '99 XK8. Both tensioners had the cracks beginning at the rounded portion where they typically do and both were missing the plastic shoe from the moving end of the tensioner. I still need to drop the oil pan to see if they are down there. What a PITA!

 

Look in the pickup screen. That's where they end up.