mystery Belt problem.
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mystery Belt problem.
So.
I replaced my alternator a month ago. the pulley diameter was smaller than the original so it slacked up my belt. got a new tensioner, same one that came off the truck. now, everything squared away and put back on the truck, the belt slips off in the lower RPM turning or breaking. It's a brand new belt. It's the right belt. It's routed right. I cannot figure out why the hell its coming off literally every single day. Al my pulleys are pitched right, they are all torqued down and have zero play. when the belt does come off, I always have excessive fluid all over the lower passenger side of the front of the engine. a LOT. like enough to fill one and a half solo cups. but its an immediate thing. its not a continuous leak and it only happens when the belt comes off. I checked all my fluids and I have plenty of of them with no signs of durastic lowering levels. HELP.
I replaced my alternator a month ago. the pulley diameter was smaller than the original so it slacked up my belt. got a new tensioner, same one that came off the truck. now, everything squared away and put back on the truck, the belt slips off in the lower RPM turning or breaking. It's a brand new belt. It's the right belt. It's routed right. I cannot figure out why the hell its coming off literally every single day. Al my pulleys are pitched right, they are all torqued down and have zero play. when the belt does come off, I always have excessive fluid all over the lower passenger side of the front of the engine. a LOT. like enough to fill one and a half solo cups. but its an immediate thing. its not a continuous leak and it only happens when the belt comes off. I checked all my fluids and I have plenty of of them with no signs of durastic lowering levels. HELP.
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The fluid is likely coming from the powersteering pump. Ford PS pumps always puke their guts out if you turn the wheel and the pump isn't spinning. If you look at the PS pump, it's also highly likely the cap has been pushed off slightly.
Most of the pulleys on an IDI are grooved, making it almost impossible for the belt to just slip off unless it's really loose. There are only three smooth pulleys where the belt can slip off while still tight - the vacuum pump, the idler, and the tensioner.
Start the truck up and watch the pulleys while someone turns the wheel. I suspect either your new tensioner is weak and not putting enough tension on the belt when it loads up (say when using the power steering), or you have a bad idler causing the belt to slide off.
Most of the pulleys on an IDI are grooved, making it almost impossible for the belt to just slip off unless it's really loose. There are only three smooth pulleys where the belt can slip off while still tight - the vacuum pump, the idler, and the tensioner.
Start the truck up and watch the pulleys while someone turns the wheel. I suspect either your new tensioner is weak and not putting enough tension on the belt when it loads up (say when using the power steering), or you have a bad idler causing the belt to slide off.
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its hard to gauge the fluid because it really doesn't have a very predominant smell and being that the truck is 23 years old it has plenty of things caked on to everything in the engine bay so its difficult to tel. I know its either power steering fluid or coolant, pretty confident that it is power steering, however it it all coming from the lower passenger side of the face of the engine block somewhere very near to the mech fuel pump. however my ps fluid level isn't seeming to drop at all.. That's what is screwin' with my head. A guy at napa today said he had a similar problem and his solution was replacing the ps pump and what happened was the pump started to bog down putting too much resistance on the pulley, causing friction on the belt and allowing it to slip. That's what my next plan of action is.
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There is no power steering fluid. At least there shouldn't be. There should be ATF in the power steering pump. ATF, fuel and coolant are NOTHING like each other. CLEAN it up, and as said above, replicate the issue while you're watching. This should not be that hard to track down.
Tuned
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From: Virginia
"I replaced my alternator a month ago. the pulley diameter was smaller than the original so it slacked up my belt."
It appears the answer is in the original statement since the problem doesn't appear to have existed prior to the alternator change. Smaller pulley diameter which, will result in decreased tension on the belt (even with a new tensioner) allowing the belt to jump-off.
The fluid would appear to be a symptom of the actual problem. And, I agree with Lead_Head, Ford PS pumps will "puke" if the pump isn't turning and the steering wheel is.
Change to the correct alternator pulley and there is a high probability the problem will go away.
It appears the answer is in the original statement since the problem doesn't appear to have existed prior to the alternator change. Smaller pulley diameter which, will result in decreased tension on the belt (even with a new tensioner) allowing the belt to jump-off.
The fluid would appear to be a symptom of the actual problem. And, I agree with Lead_Head, Ford PS pumps will "puke" if the pump isn't turning and the steering wheel is.
Change to the correct alternator pulley and there is a high probability the problem will go away.
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^x3. If you saw that the pulley on the replacement alternator wasn't the same you should have swapped it out for yours. Who knows what vehicle the replacement came off of or how many vehicles it will fit? Also like the others have said you need to degrease the engine and then keep an eye out for what is leaking.