Parts for your 2001 Subaru Forester-Drive belt tensioner

2001 Subaru Forester drive-belt tensioner — is it actually a thing on this model?

Short answer: a conventional spring‑loaded drive-belt tensioner isn’t fitted to the 2001 Subaru Forester. According to the Subaru factory service manual for H4 SOHC engines and widely used trade references like the Gates Australia accessory drive catalogue and Haynes service manuals, this Forester runs two separate ribbed accessory belts with manual adjustment. The alternator/power-steering belt is tensioned via the alternator’s pivot and adjuster hardware, and the air‑conditioning belt uses an adjustable idler pulley with a jackscrew. There’s no single serpentine belt and no automatic tensioner assembly on this year’s EJ engine layout.

Why Subaru didn’t use one here comes down to design choices of the era. The EJ platform commonly split loads across two belts, which keeps the setup simple, robust, and cost‑effective. Tension is set during servicing with basic hand tools rather than being maintained by a spring-loaded unit. Many parts listings that mention a “tensioner” for this model are actually referring to the A/C idler pulley or the alternator/PS adjuster mechanism, not an automatic serpentine-belt tensioner.

What to do under the bonnet? Instead of shopping for a drive-belt tensioner assembly, owners and techs should focus on the belts, adjusters, and idler pulley:

• Inspect both belts at each service for cracks, glazing, fraying, or contamination.
• Check the A/C idler pulley for smooth, quiet rotation