I tried today to no avail to install a new belt tensioner and new belt. I am beyond freaking frustrated with the stupidity of these engineers. I tried everything under the sun to put force to the tensioner to compress it and install the belt and just could not get it compressed enough to expose the second hole to allow me to install the belt. Now I had to spend 100 bucks on a tensioner tool and wait 8 freakin days to get it while my car sits at a friends house broke. Does anyone on here know of any ways of doing this without that tool?? Please help me with this i am without a car until I can figure this out. Thanks for any help

 

I did it once with a couple of allen wrenches and a thick piece of rebar. Stuck the wrenches in the holes in the tensioner, then used the rebar for leverage. Wasn't pretty, and I wouldn't recommend it, but it worked.....

Nik

 

The tool is worth minimizing the frustration. I picked one up from eBay right after we picked up my son's car.

You're going to use the tool more than once and it's worth the ~$20 you will spend. Shows up in a couple of days. Sucks your car will be down. Your alternative is to see if anyone in your area has one you can can borrow.

Where are you located?

 

Figured as much. I think I will wait for the tool there is nothing more I can do. I am located in Ga north of Atlanta Loganville area

 

Having the right tools for certain jobs on these MINI's really does help the process go quickly and smoothly. If you need help once you get the tool or want to read up and see how the process is done before you get it be sure to check out our article here: http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarti...eplacement.htm. If anyone else needs the tool you can purchase it here: http://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog/..._pg2.htm#item6. If you have any questions let me know.

 

I used a crow bar more then once on mine. Loosen the front upper bolt 15mm some for the bar has more metal to pry on. Having the right tool is helpful though.

 

Same. I just use a pry bar. I'm way too cheap to buy the special tool when my pry bar works fine

 

Bruh. Get a refund and buy this one. It's $30 and works well enough for me!