Still having the same problem
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Elder User
Joined: Jan 2011
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From: Rockport, IN
Still having the same problem
Well, we still have our van and we are still having the same problem with the belt. I am about 90% sure that the problem is with the power steering unit pulley. Every time the belt comes off it ends up in between the PS pulley and the unit itself. That leads me to believe that the pulley somehow got bent. Advance Auto has a replacement pulley for $10. It's probly made of plastic, but that doesn't bother me. I am fed up with having to either replace or reinstall the belt every couple of weeks. If I can get this problem taken care of, I will probly go ahead and get the exhaust done, fix some other things that are wrong with it like the A/C, and keep it until it just won't run any more.
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Elder User
Joined: Jan 2011
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From: Rockport, IN
Oh yeah, I've checked all that. The tensioner has been replaced. This has been an ongoing issue I've posted on over the last several months. I thought I had it licked, but the problem has continued. I can't see any noticeable wobbling of the pulley, but there is a slight amount of damage to one of the grooves in it.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 21,253
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From: Reynoldsburg, Ohio
If the $10 pulley is the only thing you've not yet changed that might be your next best step.
Can you hold a straight edge across another known good pulley and see if there isn't even the smallest of misalignment between it and the PS pump? Throwing a belt like you describe with everything else in good order suggests the PS pump.
I wonder if running the engine while sitting still and turning the steering wheel to full lock, holding it there for a few seconds might not repeat the belt throwing for you? If so that would pretty much convince me the pump or pulley needed attention.
Can you hold a straight edge across another known good pulley and see if there isn't even the smallest of misalignment between it and the PS pump? Throwing a belt like you describe with everything else in good order suggests the PS pump.
I wonder if running the engine while sitting still and turning the steering wheel to full lock, holding it there for a few seconds might not repeat the belt throwing for you? If so that would pretty much convince me the pump or pulley needed attention.
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Elder User
Joined: Jan 2011
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From: Rockport, IN
When I got home today I had my wife help me while I took another look at it, and I began to wonder about something. All the belts we've purchased have been from the same CarQuest here in town. Maybe there was a run of bad belts? We have a Ford dealership in this one-horse county. I am going to buy a genuine Motorcraft belt and see if that makes a difference. BTW, I looked at every pulley while the engine was idling and even had her give the van gas to get the RPMs up. Nothing obvious jumped out me. Everything seemed to be operating like it's supposed to.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2009
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From: Northwest
Hey... I'm new to your post and haven't been following your issue but I have just been reading about smog delete and it is said that if you are running a smaller belt to delete the smog pump it will cause you to throw belts, is your smog pump hooked up?
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Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2007
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Recall the days when dealer & several veteran mechanics prescribed a new belt to resolve problem w/o any lasting effect.
Also the day I discovered the crankshaft's harmonic balancer was at fault. Might be worth a check to see if the rubber ring that's pressed between the crank pulley & the pulley's core is OK. Apparently it doesn't take much to degrade this rubber & cause the pulley to wander on its core. Oil leakage at front seal is a Red Flag. Some rubber just dries, shrinks & loses elasticity. Pulley can drift back onto timing cover, dragging belt out of line. Also pulley can spin on core, putting timing marks out.
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Elder User
Joined: Jan 2011
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From: Rockport, IN
I know the rubber piece you are talking about. Had one go bad on a truck once. Never thought that maybe that could be what's going on.
And no, I haven't had the same belt this whole time. I stopped counting after purchasing belt #5 so I wouldn't completely lose my temper and take a jack handle to my van. LOL!
And the smog pump is still hooked up like it should be.
And no, I haven't had the same belt this whole time. I stopped counting after purchasing belt #5 so I wouldn't completely lose my temper and take a jack handle to my van. LOL!
And the smog pump is still hooked up like it should be.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 21,253
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From: Reynoldsburg, Ohio
Its tempting...............So if I'm following all this correctly its happening more over time rather than during or after a specific incidence like holding the steering wheel at full lock, engine running?
If its more time related that certainly points to a leaking seal and resulting damaged belt-----have you kept the removed ones in order to check them now?
I've chased a few ongoing problems like this myself and as they say its always in the last place you look.
Hope you're getting closer to the solution.
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2007
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Also check for signs of belt wear on the belt driven components. When a pulley has damaged grooves, is out of line, or is bent it's likely to accumulate black powdered rubber that gets thrown off. This can help ID where the problem is.
Kind of doubt even a $10 Advance Auto PS pulley would be "probly made of plastic". However if you haven't dealt w/these yet the way the pulley is mounted might bother you. If yours is like others I've seen, the PS pump is mounted behind bracket & pulley at front, w/shaft passing thru hole, trapping unit on bracket. Pulley must be removed to get pump off & requires special puller/pusher tool to R&R. Some parts stores loan/rent the special tools, w/o which your SOL.
I am about 90% sure that the problem is with the power steering unit pulley. Every time the belt comes off it ends up in between the PS pulley and the unit itself. That leads me to believe that the pulley somehow got bent. Advance Auto has a replacement pulley for $10. It's probly made of plastic, but that doesn't bother me.
New User
Joined: Nov 2011
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Well, we still have our van and we are still having the same problem with the belt. I am about 90% sure that the problem is with the power steering unit pulley. Every time the belt comes off it ends up in between the PS pulley and the unit itself. That leads me to believe that the pulley somehow got bent. Advance Auto has a replacement pulley for $10. It's probly made of plastic, but that doesn't bother me. I am fed up with having to either replace or reinstall the belt every couple of weeks. If I can get this problem taken care of, I will probly go ahead and get the exhaust done, fix some other things that are wrong with it like the A/C, and keep it until it just won't run any more.
You mention grooves being damaged in the pully, does this mean you have been replacing a serpentine belt each time? So you have a tensioner?
If so, one thing to check is the tensioner, do this by running the engine and watching for any tensioner jumping or bouncing. A job I did recently the owner replaced the tensioner incorrectly and it was cutting into the engine block causing the belt to jump off when he accelerated. Also check the pully not just out of alignment front to back but also if a pully is angled inward do to a missing spacer/bushing on one of the accessories. Rotate the A/C clutch with the belt off to see is the bearings are going bad. Pull the wire on the A/C clutch so that it can't engage the A/C compressor. An out of round accessory pully would cause the tensioner to bounce.
You should list the year and model of your van.
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2007
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Yup. Not only "should list the year and model" but also "should list" which motor.
For some reason I keep thinking this is a '92 & up Econoline section.
Assuming the 'dent side' Econoline Rico47635 shows is the van in question isn't much help.
For some reason I keep thinking this is a '92 & up Econoline section.
Assuming the 'dent side' Econoline Rico47635 shows is the van in question isn't much help.
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Elder User
Joined: Jan 2011
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From: Rockport, IN
Yeah, I keep forgetting that everyone doesn't know the year of my van. LOL! Its an 89 with a 300/6. I am hoping to get the new belt tomorrow. I haven't had a chance to get it all week. Hopefully the weather will cooperate with me this weekend to get the current belt off, a better inspection of the pulleys done, and the new belt installed.
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Elder User
Joined: Jan 2011
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From: Rockport, IN
Well, the dealerships no longer carry the belt for my van. I ended up buying a Gates belt (the best brand I can think of when it comes to belts), and it cost me $40. Wowzers!!! This better work or I am going to find out how well my van can float as I send it on down the Ohio River!!!!!!!!! LOL Hopefully I can get it installed tomorrow.