Last year the Serpentine belt came off. Replaced with a new belt. Yesterday going out with the truck I hear a whining noise, and some clicking like the fan belt is hitting something. Open up the hood, and yup, it is fraying the edge of the belt. The idler/tensioner is twisted. How do I replace the tensioner. Does the entire unit need to be removed, or just the pulley portion. I suspect it is a bearing. Can these be purchased aftermarket, or do we get to pay Fords price?

Thanks

Andrew

 

I would check after market first, checkers, autozone, napa, ect. thay all sale the idler/tensioner. I have seen both just roller and hole unit. Good luck.

 

if its the bearing it is a 6203 double rubber seal. napa sells em for cheap. i carry one in my glove box.

 

Since, if I recall correctly, to release the tension, you put a breaker bar, and pull counter clockwise, does this roller have reverse threads to remove? If not, how is it removed. I will try to get the bearing tonight at napa.


thanks

Andrew

 

On mine the bearing was fine, the problem was in tensioner. This allowed the arm/pulley to go out-of-alignment. NAPA sells a replacement. The replacement will be longer. The paper in the box will explain. I will give the part number tonight, if I remember.

 

there is a tsb on this issue. it replaces the tensioner to a dual pulley design with a different belt. it requires permanent modification to the accessory drive bracket. i will try to find the tsb for ya. i just priced it out a while back for my 95 and i think it was around $140 my cost. so over the counter would be more.

 

OK, I need some help please. I believe the issue is in the tensioner. With the belt off, I can twist that sideways. The pulley itself seems to be good. What I can't figure out is how to remove the tensioner. The Haynes manual doesn't give details. Is it a torx wrench to remove it, or allen wrench, or am I going at it from the worn direction? I don't think so, but stranger things happen. Also, it looks like the pulley below has to come off first. Am I correct. Does the Fan and shroud need to ocme off?

Any help would be appreciated.

Thank you

Andrew

 

AVKING - I don't remember. Tonight I will check the shop manual and scan the page for you.

J. Morgan

 

It is a torx head I believe. If I remember the idler pully had to come off to access the tensioner mount bolt. You get the tensioner as a whole unit, and just replace the whole thing. My old tensioner was wearing one side of the belt. The new one is straight and true. And 60K mile later I am still using the same belt! The bolt on the tensioner roller bolt is on tight enough that you can turn it CC to remove tension and pull the belt. If the pully bolt on the tensioner comes loose, just retighten it and then go CC again to remove the tension on the belt.

 

Mine did the same thing the whole tensioner is bad twisted mine was so bad it was wearing the torq bolt in the center that holds it on you will need to replace the whole unit. I did have to take the idler pulley off. If you go to any local parts store they will give you a longer tensionor but the same length belt will still fit. You can go to ford and get a short one for about thirty dollars more. I don't believe the bearing itself will fix what you have described. You shouldn't be able to move the pulley forward or back very little. The only movement should be inline with the belts.

 

98.53 from NAPA, entire unit. I will hopefully put it on tonight.
Yes, I had to remove the idler, both the idler, and the tensioner took a Torx T-50 I believe. When I had the correct tools in my had, took about three minutes to get the part off. Thanks everyone.

Andrew