I currently have half the front end of my wife's 2009 R56 Mini Cooper apart (I'd love to strangle the person who designed this mess) trying to replace the serpentine belt. I have the tensioner released and I have pulled the tab on the friction pulley/gear, but it will not release tension. Has anyone run into this before or does anyone have any ideas on how to get it to release?

I have tried prying on it (very gently) with a screwdriver and tapping on the pulley mounting screw to no avail.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

 

You've pulled and are holding out the friction wheel service strap?
If pulled and held out, it should release.

- Erik

 

Erik, thanks for the quick response.

I pulled the friction wheel service strap out as far as it wanted to come (1.5-2") and it stayed in place with no affect on the friction wheel itself. I tried pulling on the serpentine belt with the strap release hoping that it would cause the friction wheel to release, but no such luck. I also tried re-inserting the strap and re-releasing it again, still to no luck.

 

I can't help you with your problem, but if you think the serpentine belt change on the Mini is bad, try changing the air filter on a Citroen. You have to disassemble the windscreen wiper assembly. It's about a 30 minute disassembly and reassembly for a total of 1 hour of work.

That's the problem with these compact car designs. Everything is inaccessable.

 

Hi, I’ve got the same exact problem you’ve described here. Did you ever find a solution. I appreciate any response.

thanks,
ben

 

I wanted to respond because I had the same problem and got it fixed. I took off the crank pulley off in an attempt to just put the new belt on while I reinstalled the pulley. After I did that it somehow that fixed the tensioner. Maybe it let it retract all the way up I’m not sure but it fixed itself. Now when I pull the tab the tensioner correctly extends allowing for room to take the belt out.