1st Gen R53 Cooper S Most liked posts in thread: Tensioner stop opinions?

I have had the DT stop for about two years or so and it saved my a$$ once, it worked like a charm. My belt disintegrated sometime after a hard acceleration after which I had to come to a stop. I hadn't even realized I was in trouble until I started smelling something and I looked at the water temp on its very fast trajectory towards the wrong direction since the s/c and, hence, the water pump, wasn't spinning anymore. The battery light also came on since the alternator wasn't spinning either. Since I was at a complete stop, there was no other way to tell I was cooked before the other symptoms started.

It happened a couple of days after the dealer serviced the car and had replaced the A/C. I tend to think that they damaged the belt during the install because it hasn't happened since after replacing the belt.

I haven't noticed any rattles either. For me this product is a win-win and has already paid for itself.

 

I have the ALTA stop.

 

I have the GTT tuning stop. All I can tell you is I've had on troubles with it or the idler pulley bearing that I got from them. I also so have their adjustable cam gear. All their products are well made.

 

Lost my belt just before Christmas. Then the tensioner broke (!) when it wiped out my crank pulley. USE A STOP!!
On an unrelated note, I got 'er back together 1-5-12, only to bust the oil pan (unseen debris?) on 1-12-12. Think I shut her off in time to save the motor.. When will the madness end?

 

My DT stop came apart after ~5K miles, so I can't recommend that one.

 

My DT stop did its job last july when my damper pulley died and ate my belt.

 

I had a DT in place for about 4 years and it wore in the middle and eventually broke (which I felt was a fair service life for the part). Unfortunately the end pulled out on the replacement unit. When I can get it off of the car, I hope to send it back.

 

If i had to bet $$, i would think the failed ones are cheap imitations...possibly using an electrical connector, made of aluminium....or it might have been fastened so the connectors rubbed.
The DT desgin is simple, quiet, and relilable, but easily copied to an inferior standard...
I have a dt tuned tensioner....

 

Yep. I've heard great things about DT customer service and I'm sure Chad (or Way, as I purchased from WMW) would come through. I've just gotta get it off of the car first and it has been on my low priority list. I've also got some cool new ratcheting box end wrenches coming (a splurge of a gift purchased with a bunch of Christmas gift cards from Home Depot) which will make this a much easier job, so I'm waiting for them to arrive.

 

We have never had a DT one fail but an Alta one did miss once and that was not good for the balancer. We only use the DT one here at the shop now