serpentine belt remove/replace

tonyhd · #1 (**permalink**) 06-04-2007, 12:23 AM

hi everyone, i have a 97 f150 5.4 4x2 105k, time to replace the belt. i can get a 1/2 " breaker bar in the tension pully to releave tension.the problem i'm having is that i'm on crutches with major foot surgury, (cast) and my neighbor is trying to help me, i get the belt loose but having trouble getting the belt off from around the tension pully, do i have to get the belt totally off around the fan and fold the belt and slide it between the pully and the block? it looks really tight like it won't fit. what's the easiest way to get it off and back on? any help with this is greatly appreciated, thanks tony..................

96sherm · #2 (**permalink**) 06-04-2007, 09:10 AM

well, i have no suggestions from experience, but i'd just cut the belt if you don't need it for the future. That doesn't solve the task of getting the new one on, but i'm sure someone will chime in. Oh yes, welcome to FTE, be sure to stop in to your local chapter.

galaxie641 · #3 (**permalink**) 06-04-2007, 09:23 AM

If one of you pulls the tensioner back, the other one only needs to remove the belt from about 2 pulleys, then release the tensioner and pull the breaker bar out, then finish removing the belt. Make note of how it goes around the AC pulley, it is kind of weird how it loops between two pulleys and "ropes" the AC pulley.

ncranchero · #4 (**permalink**) 06-04-2007, 10:13 AM

1997 5.4L drive belt illustration from FORD in case your label is gone/unreadable .

MazdaRangerGuy · #5 (**permalink**) 06-04-2007, 09:46 PM

I've had many of these I had to remove the tensioner to get the belt off. I think it's three or four bolts.

Octane · #6 (**permalink**) 06-04-2007, 10:58 PM

You only need to put the breaker bar on the tensioner long enough to get the belt off of the alternator, then you should be able to get the belt off without needing to put the breaker bar on the tensioner.
I put a new serpentine belt on my truck yesterday and thats how I did it.

tonyhd · #7 (**permalink**) 06-05-2007, 01:57 AM

thanks for all replys, i think i have to do what mazdarangerguy say's, the belt won't get around the tensioner pully unless it's moved out a bit, then i could twist it and slide it right off. i'll change it today and let you know how it went, thanks for all your help, tony..............

Vegas Ernie · #8 (**permalink**) 06-27-2007, 12:28 PM

Just about to get into changing my belt on 99 Expy. Good Info. Anybody notice any sever wear to their idler when they pulled the belt off?

ddelong · #9 (**permalink**) 11-07-2009, 05:06 PM

I have just finished changing the serpentine belt on my 99 F150 4X4 with a 4.6 litre engine and have the cuts and scrapes to prove it.

First of all I used a 1/2 inch strong arm bar on the tensioner pulley but don't expect the square end to go all the way into the square hole in the centre of the pulley like a socket. It doesn't. Well, the bar was too short so I took a piece of square tubing (took apart a stand) and placed it over the 1/2 inch drive strong arrm and then rotated it clockwise relieving the tension. I was able to place the bar on the rad hose bracket disengaging the tension on the belt so that I could change the belt.

I did not take the belt off the tensioner pulley but the idler pulley behind the fan belt. Now I took off the complete belt from all the pulleys.

I played around for quite a while until I finally figure it out. I just could not get my arm down to the pulleys to place the new belt so here is what I finally did.

I took off the 6 bolts on the plate under the engine. They were just secured with speed nuts anyway so now I have access to the pulleys. I did break a couple of speed nuts so I went to the Ford dealer and picked some up.

I looped the belt with the smooth side out and placed it over the tensioner pulley towards the left side of the truck (looking from the front) to the A/C pulley. I went under the truck and installed the belt around the A/C pulley.

I now looped the other end of the belt to the right side pulley (alternator pulley) and got under the truck an completed the installation. After the alternator pulley had the belt installed, I pulled up on the belt towards the idler behind the fan (but not on it at this time) and then looped the belt down to the crank pulley.I got under the truck and installed the belt on the crank pulley.

Then last thing I did was to pull up on the belt and finally looped it over the fan idler pulley. I had to relieve the tensioner just a bit but it finally worked out.

I reinstalled the plate under the engine compartment and started up the truck. It worked!

If only someone would have told me how to do this, I could have saved about 4 hours of frustration. I believe that one can change the belt in less than an hour but you really have to have a good process.

Good luck.