Gates 38196 Accessory Drive Belt Tensioner Assembly - Air Conditioning

OE Belt Tensioner for Accessory Drive Systems

The Gates DriveAlign Premium OE Automatic Belt Tensioner, part number 38196, is built for accessory drive belt applications that require stable belt control and OE-style fit. It is a direct replacement for select Chevrolet Corvette, Camaro, Pontiac Firebird, and Pontiac GTO air conditioning systems.

Gates applies OE system design experience to this DriveAlign Premium OE Automatic Belt Tensioner line, with manufacturing held to rigid tolerances for fit, form, and function. The 38196 tensioner uses a thermoplastic body, a smooth/backside pulley contact surface, and an OE Exact comparison rating for applications that call for precise belt tracking.

Key Features

• Part number 38196 for select accessory drive belt tensioner applications
• OE Exact comparison rating for OE-style replacement fitment
• Thermoplastic construction
• Single pulley design with smooth/backside contact surface
• V-ribbed belt type application
• 17 mm bearing bore inside diameter
• 65 mm outside diameter and 20 mm width
• Single mounting hole design

Product Details

This Gates DriveAlign Premium OE Automatic Belt Tensioner is engineered for vehicles that need consistent belt tension in the air conditioning drive system. It is listed for 1997-2004 Chevrolet Corvette, air conditioning; 1998-2002 Chevrolet Camaro, air conditioning; 1998-2002 Pontiac Firebird, air conditioning; and 2004-2006 Pontiac GTO, air conditioning. If you are sourcing a Gates 38196 replacement for a Chevrolet Corvette or Camaro air conditioning belt tensioner, this unit matches the OE-style application requirements.

This part cross-references Continental 49297 for the same application.

What It Helps Address

• Belt slack that can affect accessory drive operation
• Noise from a worn or unstable belt tensioner assembly
• Uneven belt tracking on V-ribbed accessory drive systems
• Air conditioning drive belt tension loss
• Fitment issues when replacing an OE-style tensioner on the listed vehicles

Installation Notes and Tips

Verify the vehicle year, make, model, and air conditioning application before ordering. Compare the pulley diameter, width, bearing bore, and mounting style to the original unit to confirm the Gates 38196 matches the existing tensioner assembly. Inspect the belt condition and related accessory drive components during replacement to help ensure proper system operation.

Quality Assurance

Gates manufactures DriveAlign Premium OE Automatic Belt Tensioners to rigid tolerances and specifications to support OE fit, form, and function. The 38196 is built as an OE-style replacement for the listed Chevrolet Corvette, Camaro, Pontiac Firebird, and Pontiac GTO applications.