My yearmodel 2000 Toyota Celica has consistently and repeatedly had problems with the drive belt tensioner mechanism. On or about every 30,000 miles, the belt tensioner fails at which time rattling and squeaking noises eminate from the engine compartment as described in tsb #EG01401. I was able to have the tensioner replaced under warranty once. The next time it was replaced out of warranty at about 60 - 70,000 miles. Now the vehicle has 90,000 miles on it and it is obvious that this part has failed again. I am concerned that the repeated and consistent failure of this part is putting my life and my passengers life at risk.

- Tomball, TX, USA

The serpentine belt tensioner for my Toyota Celica is once again failing. The vehicle has 75000 miles on it, and the tensioner has already been replaced twice. It eventually fails to the point the belt is constantly slipping.

- Brunswick, OH, USA

My 2000 Celica GT-S (bought new) has exhibited a squealing from the engine compartmrnt since about 12,000 miles. A pulley belt tensioner and the belt have been completey replaced at least 5 times (I lost count), as well as "repaired" by Toyota at least 3 additonal times. In June 2003, at about 72,000 miles, 2 months afetr I had taken the car to the dealer for yet another repair of this item, the entire assembly failed when the connector colt sheared off at the engine block, requiring the engine to be removed to drill out the bolt and remount the assembly. This was fixed, luckily, under my extended warranty, althought the bill was listed as $1271. The entire unit was replaced again yesterday, March 18, 2004 only 9 months since the last rebuild. The assembly has yet to last more than 9 months without breaking, so is always fixed under the repair's 1-year warranty. Still when the assembly broke off the engine block, among other things, the power steering pump failed. Had I been going 65 mph, it could have been catastrophic. Keep in mind it had been "repaired" only 2 months prior. The delaer offers no sysmpathy for the continued fixes, nor a reason why it continues to fail. This thing has never worked right, and apparently never will.

- Richmond, VA, USA

I have a 2000 Toyota Celica gts I have an ongoing problem with the belt tensioner that squeaks and rattles!also the lift bolts are an issue because they wear out and have to be replaced overtime.

- Mineola, NY, USA

Engine accessory drive belt tensioner is very noisy and squeals when wet. Problem was diagnosed and repaired by dealer, but after 20,000 miles the problem returned. It's especially noisy after vehicle has warmed and sits at idle. Dealer has been very cooperative, but vehicle is now out of warranty.

- Unionville, CT, USA

My car makes a loud squealing noise usually occurring when it rains or in the morning (I'm guessing due to condensation). The dealer replaced my belt tensioner two times to fix this problems but it always comes back. The first time they replaced it under warranty. The second time I had to pay around $450 to replace it and the noise still came back a week later. I'm guess that the rain is leaking into the engine compartment destroying the belt tensioner. I have complained about this many times and the dealer would either spray the belts with oil or replace the tensioner belt but the noise always comes back.

- Potomac, MD, USA

On 8/8/03 I brought my 2000 Toyota Celica GT-S w/ 33K miles to the service department at A-1 Toyota, 50 amity rd, new haven, ct for a problem regarding some very loud continuous squealing originating from the engine compartment, especially during engine idle. At 4:20pm, a service technician (ken) called to inform me that a part called a 'belt tensioner' would have to be ordered, and the estimated cost for this part and installation would be $485. Ken asked me if I'd like him to order the part and schedule an appointment, I said I'd let him know Monday. Then I did some research, and found a NHTSA technical service bulletin #628669 (Toyota tsb #EG01401) pertaining to my specific complaint, and how to remedy it. I also read a very good article on edmunds.com about tsb's, and how they are regarded by the industry as 'secret warranties'...if the customer's vehicle is exhibiting a problem specifically identified in a NHTSA tsb, the manufacturer wants the dealership to fix the problem free of charge, even if the vehicle is over it's warranty period (mine is by 7 months) so that customers complaints are resolved before it turns into a recall issue. I then called A-1 Toyota's service manager (mike), explaining that I had a NHTSA tsb in my hand for the very same problem my vehicle was exhibiting, and was not happy that I'd have to pay $485 to have it fixed, even though there was a tsb issued about my vehicle's problem. I found mike extremely uncooperative regarding this issue, telling me Toyota would not fix my problem since I was over my warranty period by 7 months. Again, according to the edmunds.com article pertaining to tsb's, whether the vehicle is over or under the warranty, manufacturers want the problem fixed by their dealerships before too many customers complain about the same defect and are forced by NHTSA to issue a recall. Consider this my formal complaint in getting this problem one step closer to a recall.

- Shelton, CT, USA

Moisture in the headlights and squeaking belt tensioner.

- Cottage Grove, MN, USA

Belt makes a very loud noise. Had the belt replaced 3/02-mileage 20K+. noise has come back and louder at 36K. Tried lubricating, made the noise worse. The car has been taken to the dealer 5 times for same problem. Dealer says belt must be replaced again.

- Smyrna, DE, USA