What does this part do?

[XG332]

I have finally managed to locate my phantom engine rattle to this part.
It is the little pressed steel bar running inside the AUX belt tensioner spring
What does it do, should i replace it (my skin has only just recovered after replacing the alternator) or can i just pull him out?

(Part being held up with punch)

Cheers
Oli

[davepoth]

Put a bit of blu/white tac under it. Job done.

[anonymous-user]

I'd hazard a guess that the steel strip is used to maintain the spring tensioner in it's compressed state during assy, with a pin in the hole (as your punch is in the pic) this makes it easy to fit the aux belt, afterwhich the "pin is pulled" and the tensioner expands to tension the belt. I'm not entirely sure why this part should now be loose, unless it has vibrated loose (fatigue failure ??) I should immagine that you can simple remove the offending bit!!

[XG332]

It is rattling whilst the engine is running, i found this pic just to demonstrate what part.