Dear Tom and Ray:

In a recent column, you mentioned the "infamous GM Quad 4 engine" in a 1991 Buick Skylark, and said the tensioner has been redesigned several times in an effort to try to keep it from breaking. At 45,000 miles, I had to replace the belt tensioner for the serpentine belt in my '95 Saturn due to a loud squealing noise. I paid $134.90 for it and a new belt, which was not covered by the warranty. Do I have the same engine with the same lousy tensioner? -- Bob

Tom: No, you have a different lousy tensioner, Bob, and a different engine altogether. The tensioner we mentioned in the Quad 4 is for the timing chain. That tensioner is actually INSIDE the engine. And that's why it's such a colossal pain in the butt to fix when it breaks.

Ray: The tensioner that broke in your Saturn is OUTSIDE the engine. It has nothing to do with valve timing or the running of the engine at all. It tensions the rubber serpentine belt that runs your accessories, like the air conditioner and the power steering. And because it's so much easier to get to, it only costs $100 to replace instead of several hundred.

Tom: And while belts and hoses are generally not covered by warranties, if you feel the belt failed because of a faulty tensioner, you could probably make a case to Saturn and ask them to cover it under warranty. Good luck, Bob.

Changing your oil regularly is the cheapest insurance you can buy for your car, but how often should you change it? Find out by ordering Tom and Ray's pamphlet "Ten Ways You May Be Ruining Your Car Without Even Knowing It!" To order, send (check or money order) to Ruin, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. You can also order online.

© 1998 by Tom and Ray Magliozzi and Doug Berman Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

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