Auxiliary Belt Tension 2.5td, Spring Tensioner

[Robin]

Hi all. Just replaced the spring tensioner on the auxiliary belt. It was slapping and gave every indication of being slack however the dimension across the spring tensioner bolt centres was below 98mm indicating the tension was correct.
So I bought a new spring tensioner, £68 - ouch!
Found on the new one that there is a 'top'.
Fault cured by replacement of tensioner but I did wonder if I had put the original one back upside down!
The old one was also some 15mm longer than the new one. I am satisfied that the old one was faulty. I decided to look inside and it is a grease filled hydraulic tensioner, hence the top and bottom relationship.
So message is, the tensioner can fail even though in static state it is dimensionally correct when installed - it is a hydraulic unit and the top must be identified when fitting.
The manual does not mention this and it would be so easy to make the bolts a different size to ensure the correct fitting.
Good old Citroen

[techmanagain]

Without your RP number (see passenger door "A" pillar when door is opened) it is difficult (impossible?) to advise on many aspects of the variations built in at different times. Why not sign yourself off like others do, with your Model and RP number? It would be a great help in identifying your needs.

[Robin]

Sorry techmanagain. Just posted this one for info. I should have mentioned that this spring tensioner is only fitted to the 2.5's with aircon and the Peugeot 605's of course!