Is my tensioner bad?
 

ok, this aint an es, but it's the same engine. 2gr fe

2007 149k miles

Placing the end of a screwdriver against the center bolt with engine running I can feel it moving. Best way to describe it is like a chatter or strong vibration. It feels like that, but no noise. I think this is normal, but I dont know.

Im going to replace an idler pulley or bearing, because it makes a noise. While Im there I should replace the other idler/bearing and the tensioner bearing. Unless the tension itself is not good.

I cant get a torque wrench on it, but using a wrench and my hand its difficult to move and feels the same for the entire travel with belt off.

Here is imprint of wrench after pushing and releasing it two times.

https://imgur.com/a/NwCwhvd

here it is 5 minutes later

https://imgur.com/a/CqYtFdh

It feels tight to me, but is it normal to vibrate much?

Here it is spinning and you cant really see the vibration. Cant hear it either, but touch that center bolt head and you feel it strong. The two idler pulley bolt heads dont vibrate like this.

https://imgur.com/a/jq9yqZE

I believe you're picking up the vibrations of the entire belt train when listing to the individual pulley bearings, especially the tensioner pulley, as it is not mounted as securely as the idler pulley bearings. But, unless you hear a metal on metal grinding sound through the screwdriver, the bearings are OK. Since you removed your belt, you can easily spin each component individually to isolate the problem, assuming there is one. What got you started on this...were you hearing a noise (without the screwdriver)?

Ive isolated the noise as coming from the lower idler pulley. While trying to find the source of that noise, I noticed the tensioner vibration. This tensioner vibration is MUCH more then other parts in the accessory drive system. Im asking if that tensioner movement is normal.

p

Yes it is normal. The tensioner is sprung to absorb and manage the belt as it receives different loads at different points along it's travel and has some flex.