2008 sentra serpentine belt tensioner replacement

[hsmiami]

2008 Sentra 2.0 S, 37k miles. The pulley in my serpentine belt auto-tensioner is very noisy and have lateral play. At about $35 for the part I thought It would be an easy fix BUT I cant get to the Torx50 bolt that holds the tensioner; there is just not enough room to get the torx socket alone in the bolt, much less socket plus ratchet. The FSM here does not mention any special tool. I even tried to raise the engine a little but the tensioner bolt doesn't move far enough to show thru an opening in the sheet metal in front of the engine. Any Ideas/Suggestions?? Thanks in advance.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

I'm not familiar with that area, what is keeping you from getting the socket in there? The wheel well/splash guard? You might have to remove that.

Also food for thought: that vehicle may still be under warranty. Worth a shot anyway.

[hsmiami]

Thanks for writing. You know how in front-wheel-drive cars the engine sits sideways and the front of the engine faces the side engine compartment toward the fender...well, the bolt that holds the serpentine belt tensioner is right in front of the sub-frame/sheet metal, about 3/4in away. I have no idea how you could get to this bolt without a special tool (which the FSM does not mention) OR pulling out the engine! I'll double check about the warranty but I think that after 6mo/36Kmiles which I just used up, only engine internals is covered til 60Kmiles and transmission til 120Kmiles. Thanks again. I'll post any findings.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

Is the torx bolt male or female? I've seen Nissan use male torx bolts before, that require a torx socket.
If I'm reading you correctly, its a male torx socket. If you're willing to bite the bullet and sacrifice a tool, you could make your own specialty tool. Cut enough of the torx socket off so that you'll have some wiggle room, and weld it on piece of steel (so in effect you now have a box end wrench with a torx pattern on it).
Of course, depending on how much those tools cost, you might be better off taking it to a shop and letting them deal with it.

[dsc1123]

if you have had a few things done at your local dealer they will goodwill it for you just ask them about it because your just outside the warranty