Hey All~
I was driving along yesterday, and all of the sudden, i hear a horrible grinding sound, so i pull over and look under the hood...my serpentine is torn to shreads! I figured easy fix... upon closer inspection i found that the idler pulley on the tensioner looks like the bearing blew, it looks like crap. It's all kittywampus.
Has anyone replaced a pulley and/or a serpentine belt on a '97 or similar 4.2? Is there anything I should know? Napa has the pulley fdor $18 and the belt for $33, i figure it should be an easy fix, whenever i get around to it.
Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance for any help...if anyone has had it done at a shop or ford, how much was it? I hate fighting with seprentine belts, would shop work be worth it? Probably not...
Thanks again

Ryan

 

Have a nice belt tensioner ready!

 

True 4.2, what do you mean? Are you saying i can't just buy the idler pulley for the tensioner? Or do you mean it's gonna be a pain to do? Thanks!

 

Hey All~
So, i switched the idler pulley on the tensioner and the serpintine belt. I was worrying about nothing, I think it was the easiest repair work I've ever done! ABout $55 and a half hour later, the job was done. If anyone has to do it, just know that the thread on the retaining bolt for the pulley is reverse thread. Well, hope it'll help someone. P.S. Does anyone know a 4.2 with 8 pulleys? Apparently some have 8 and some have 7, i was just curious.

~Ryan

 

Now you're confusing me. 8 and 7 pulleys? Wierd

 

My guess is your extra pulley is air conditioning? Did you check the other idler pulleys? My truck had 3 idlers, and two of em went bad at once...

 

I have 7 pulleys, and that's including the AC pulley, 2 idlers, alternator, crankshaft, water pump, and fan. I go through NAPA autoparts, and they had 2 different stock belts for a '97 F-150 with a 4.2. One was with A/C 7 pulley system the other with A/C 8 pulley system, I called Ford and they offered the same options. According to plourde2002, the extra pulley may be a third idler pulley. It's wierd they're all not the same. I guess i could just ask ford. Well, whatever the case if you ever have to replace a serpentine i your 4.2, know how many pulleys you have if you have A/C. Talk to ya'll later.