Belt Tensioner Woes

[jaguax]

From pelicanparts:

"place your tool into the tensioner and try rotating clockwise or counter-clockwise - will become immediately apparent how the tensioner releases the belt"

No, actually no it won't.

First of all I don't see an offset bolt like in the pelican parts article. It feels more like the bolt is right in the center of the pulley tensioner. And second of all, I've tried clockwise and counterclockwise and it seems to not want to move unless I force it which I'm trying to avoid.

Any ideas?

[Tefal]

This 1 should b turned clockwise> http://www.pelicanparts.com/BMW/techarticles/E36-Belt-Replacement/pic9.jpg

[Tefal]

This may help? http://www.realoem.com/bmw/partgrp.do?model=BF32&mospid=47430&hg=11&fg=18

[jaguax]

I don't think that car is the same as mine... This is what mine looks like:

http://img49.imageshack.us/img49/2510/beltsef9.jpg

[Tefal]

Thats the 1. u need to turn it clockwise

[jaguax]

Really hard right?

[Tefal]

u do need to give it some umph, u should c the pulley move left

[jaguax]

Thanks a lot man, I would've thought it was counterclockwise but you were right. :)

On a side note, are old water pumps supposed to look this clean? Perhaps it was already replaced?

http://img261.imageshack.us/img261/8852/pumpdq7.jpg

Lastly, when I removed the lower radiator hose from the thermostat housing, this plastic plug fell out. You can kind of think of it as a soda bottle cap, only transparent and big enough to completely plug the left end of the thermostat housing... Really cheap transparent plastic as well. Anyone have any idea what this is, and do I need to reinstall it?

[Tamad]

when we did mine it was easy..sorry no pictures..