'99 Ford Explorer 4.0 SOHC, 89K miles
I put an after market belt on it. About 6 weeks later it began squelching when you started it and sometimes when you accelerated hard. I took it in and Ford told me that after market belts are known to squeek. Last night it locked up and smoked like crazy. I took it back to Ford, same story, they said it is fine and nothing locked up just that it is the wrong belt. It is the same size as the original belt. I still think something must have locked up (Ac, tensioner, ?) which caused the belt to smoke like a chimney. Any ideas? Has anyone had a squeeking/squelching after market belt? I am going to put a FORD belt on it and take it back to Ford if it still squeeks.
thanks
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I'm running an aftermarket belt now. It's a Gates brand, and I haven't had any problems. You might have some other problem besides the belt. Try taking the tension off the belt, and turn all of the pulleys by hand. If you find one that is really stiff, or won't turn by hand at all, that's the problem.....

 

While the belt is off, make sure all your pulleys(AC, Alt, etc) turn freely. It could also be the tensioner. Why did you replace it initially?? If the old one came apart as well, then I'd suspect a pulley or tensioner....

 

The Ford Tech tells me the belt is too loose and thats why it was burning... He said it was too big and that all of the pulleys are ok (except the AC clutch needs to be replaced.) I put the Ford/Motorcraft belt on it and I got it home OK (~30 miles), no more squelching. I'm going to change the AC clutch tonight and drive some more and see what happens. I measured the Ford belt vs. the aftermarket belt and they appear to be the same size!
I'll keep you posted, thanks for the info.
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'95 Explorer 4x4
'99 Explorer 4x4
'02 F150 4x4

 

Took off the AC clutch... the gasket/seal over the bearings is FRIED!!! This is the 5th time (out of 7) that the Ford techs have faild to diagnose a problem.

Can anyone point me to documentation on how the gasket/seal fits in to this? And, do i really need a new "clutch" or just the gasket/seal?

thanks,
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My parents were just discussing what happens to their incompotent students in the real world, you found them!