Hi all,
A while back I replaced my #1 tensioner in my 2001 GV. It was giving that wonderful bicycle chain noise on cold startup, and after a while, the noise finally never went away completely.
The reason the tensioner goes bad is because the oil pass through hole on the one in the engine from the factory is too small, so any time anything heavier than 5w30 oil is used, it doesn't get enough lubrication, and wears down.
Knowing the state my truck was in when I got it, it doesn't surprise me that the prior owner would have used incorrect oil, or not ever changed it. Sure the truck was clean when I picked it up from the dealer, but when I was doing modifications - in pulling out the center console it was completely stuffed with garbage. I mean there was enough garbage there that when I pulled the console out, the garbage was in the shape of the console. There was also traces of garbage behind the dash and under the rear seats.
The replacement tensioner Suzuki put out after the fact (for a TSB) has a larger oil pass through hole.
I thought I'd just post a couple of pictures related to my tensioner install back when I did it. I know the forum lost some data, maybe this will help put some info out there.
Here's a link to the related TSB, as well:
http://www.suzuki-grandvitara.info/documents/KnownProblems/GV_TChainTensionerNoise.pdf
