Based on many of your suggestions I'm going to carry an extra serpentine belt with me at all times. What tools do you folks recommend carrying in order to make the switch on some roadside?

Thanks for all your help.

 

Can't remember if its a 3/8 or 1/2" rachet(I have them both in the truck at all times) and possibly a small extension.

 

1/2" drive "breaker bar" will do the trick and is very easy to change.

 

Pliers if you have to remove the top Radiator hose like mine.

 

If you don't want to have to remove the top radiator hose to change the serpentine belt, there is a replacement hose that routes around the belt... I believe it is supposed to be for ambulances. Do a search for it, or maybe somebody that has done it can chime in with a part #...

 

Here's the part numbers I have:
(NAPA) 9066 (upper, over belt)
(Carquest) 22433 (upper, over belt)
cheers

 

Great information. Thanks folks!

 

So how much do these cost compare to the dealer's price?
This is a stupid question but what happens when you driving and the belt breaks?

 

No such thing as a stupid question...

AC, Power Steering, Alt & Water pump all quit when you lose the acc belt. Will also lose PS pump assisted braking. Biggest items of concern are the water pump & alt. Engine will overheat & batteries won't get charged. You can drive for a little ways to find a good spot to pull over & change it but, not far. The steering will be a little bit stiffer than usual witout the PS pump. If your pulling when it happens remember the part about the PS pump boost to the brakes. It'll take a bit of room to stop.

Hope this answers it,
DG

 

yea and if it just frays like mine did it makes a mess of your fire blanket on your hood.

 

Remember the good old days when motors had two or three belts? Now if a belt goes, everything quits turning.

 

Yeah, like less than a mile. It's AMAZING how fast things heat up when the coolant quits moving.

 

I've been lucky, Never had one break on my truck. Cheap insurance to change them every 40-45K miles. Broke one on a E-series Ford U-Break it truck - Drove a couple of miles before it got hot but, the temp was like low 20's that day.

D