So I had the mini in for the airbag seat sensor recall. They said my belt tensioner is failed leaking hydraulic fluid. How bad a problem is this?

I'm trying to figure out what to repair before going on a 3hr trip for thanksgiving .

Also reported

The bad wheel bearing is a no brainier (fix it).

Leaky upper engine mount can wait.

Rear calipers lines are "double gasketed" (calipers came with two gaskets I installed with both. I guess less is threading isn't good but not sure this needs "fixing" though)

Badly worn tires. Switching to winter wheels..

Oil pan and crank sensor gaskets leaky (keep an eye on oil level for now have fixed later.

 

I think you ought to fix it, if the tensioner fails completely, I think that the belt stops turning the supercharger and waterpump which will at the very least overheat and leave you stranded, and at worst mean you end up needing a new motor.

 

So it's the little shock has sprung a leak. The spring is still tensioning the belt.

What is the risk? The broken shock seizes causing the belt to loose tension? I think the risk of the spring or bracket failing are pretty low.

I'm trying to talk myself Into driving this to family for thanksgiving with the tensioner shock broken. I doubt I can get it into a shop tomorrow and it will be at least a week before I can get a de-tensioner tool. I used a universal tool for the alternator a month ago and I don't want to do that again.

 

The MINI Cooper S uses a serpentine belt to drive the various ancillary components on the engine. This includes the alternator, A/C compressor and the supercharger/water pump. The serpentine belt is kept in place by a small dampener and a coil spring mounted to the end of an idler pulley. This is called a belt tensioner. Over time, the serpentine belt can stretch. The tensioner setup is designed to allow a certain amount of flex to account for stretching as well as vibration. I'd replace yours. Some good information about the belt tension in this NAM thread here. We have a DIY that can help you with the replacement, which provides a lot more information about it and the tensioner is here if needed.

 

Well I reserved a rental car for thanksgiving. I'm ordering parts.

Current parts total for the fall:
Fuel pump and filter
Tensioner
Alternator
Serpentine Belt
Front wheel bearing

Maybe it is getting to be time for a new car. The new cooper s was better then expected but has a lot of new things to break.

 

The shock leaking isn't the biggest issue with the tensionner, it's just a damper. Over time, the tensionner can lose tension, which will lead to belt slipping, so loss of power, cooling and alternator.

I already had a new one waiting in a box of parts, just in case, then one day I went to replace the belt and the tensionner would no longer go back to its position, I had to physically push it, which is obviously not good. I put the new one in and everything was fine, but the shock started leaking not even a year later and it's an oem one.

 

That's what I was thinking driving with the hydraulics busted wouldn't be that bad

I just replaced the alternator a month and a half ago and the spring is still super strong. It was a $@&* to detention. This time I'm forking over $50 for a proper tool