Things I Learned Today
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Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2001
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Things I Learned Today
1. Without any warning whatsoever, the serpentine tensioner pulley bearing can fail, destroy itself completely and allow the pulley to fall off. Your first clue is likely to be strange noises as pieces of the bearing ricochet around the engine compartment as you drive
2. Distances are always longer when you have to walk.
3 Goodyear makes steel pulleys rather than the usual plastic ones found at most auto parts stores (#49002 - $20.90 – Checker Auto).
4. When attempting a roadside replacement of your serpentine belt and trying to get it on the A/C compressor pulley, don't freak out when you discover the center bolt holding the A/C clutch is missing.
5. One of the bolts holding the air box to the MAF sensor housing is exactly the right size to use in an emergency to hold the A/C clutch on.
6. If you need to lie on the ground to get the serpentine belt on the crank pulley, check first for goat head thorns!
2. Distances are always longer when you have to walk.
3 Goodyear makes steel pulleys rather than the usual plastic ones found at most auto parts stores (#49002 - $20.90 – Checker Auto).
4. When attempting a roadside replacement of your serpentine belt and trying to get it on the A/C compressor pulley, don't freak out when you discover the center bolt holding the A/C clutch is missing.
5. One of the bolts holding the air box to the MAF sensor housing is exactly the right size to use in an emergency to hold the A/C clutch on.
6. If you need to lie on the ground to get the serpentine belt on the crank pulley, check first for goat head thorns!
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,529
Likes: 35
From: Kansas
Remember the "Calvin and Hobbs" comic strip? You know, the one with the boy and his imaginary/real stuffed tiger? Do you remember when Calvin complained about chores or homework? What did the dad always tell him? He said "It gives you character....". Uh, anyway, hope your Aero is fixed and back on the road. Makes me want to go and change out the belts and the tensioner.
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2005
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I was *almost* in the same situation a year ago!! 
But loud screeching and nice mechanic friend saved my tuckis! He pressed the bearings out and replaced with new ones. Cost was about $9 a bearing! Much cheaper than the $30-50 quoted at auto parts store for whole part!!! 
aerocolorado:
" One of the bolts holding the air box to the MAF sensor housing is exactly the right size to use in an emergency to hold the A/C clutch on."
Nice to know Aero comes with spare parts!!!!
the Cowgirl Mechanic
But loud screeching and nice mechanic friend saved my tuckis! He pressed the bearings out and replaced with new ones. Cost was about $9 a bearing! Much cheaper than the $30-50 quoted at auto parts store for whole part!!! aerocolorado:
" One of the bolts holding the air box to the MAF sensor housing is exactly the right size to use in an emergency to hold the A/C clutch on."
Nice to know Aero comes with spare parts!!!!
the Cowgirl Mechanic
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Postmaster
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It's so comforting to be cruising down the road, pull up for a stop sign and watch your belt pulley go careening across the intersection. You soon forget about that when you attempt to make your first turn and realize you have no power steering. That nimble van is suddenly transformed into a lumbering '47 Desoto.
I love Calvin & Hobbes. In fact, I'm currently midway through one of the anthologies. They never cease to make me laugh no matter how many times I've read them.
I love Calvin & Hobbes. In fact, I'm currently midway through one of the anthologies. They never cease to make me laugh no matter how many times I've read them.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 391
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From: brooksville, florida
You know what, I don't think I have ever heard of anyone having had one of those belt tensioners break on them untill now, but it is worth keeping an eye on that tensioner, thanks for the heads up.
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Postmaster
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: Southern California
Aerocolorado, I'm glad you came through with minimum damage to the van and yourself. Just be thankful it was only "goat head thorns," and not "goat turd." 
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Junior User
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: Concordia, MO
Thanks Tung!
I averted the above because of the generosity of our buddy Tung (copper_90680).
Tung had sent me a couple of extra tensioner bearings when we made a parts transaction a year or so ago. Well, I was in the middle of putting a new radiator in the 93 AWD EB, and I found that I had a bad bearing. So I swapped out the bearing, and averted an annoying breakdown.
Thanks again, you saved me much grief!
Tung had sent me a couple of extra tensioner bearings when we made a parts transaction a year or so ago. Well, I was in the middle of putting a new radiator in the 93 AWD EB, and I found that I had a bad bearing. So I swapped out the bearing, and averted an annoying breakdown.
Thanks again, you saved me much grief!
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 586
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From: Tottenham Ontario Canada
Originally Posted by cbr900
You know what, I don't think I have ever heard of anyone having had one of those belt tensioners break on them untill now, but it is worth keeping an eye on that tensioner, thanks for the heads up.
The tensioner pulley bearing on my Caddy went south and melted its way out of the center of the plastic pulley a year ago. The aftermarket replacement had a steel pulley.
On the Aerostar, I pressed out and replaced the bearings on all the tensioner and idler pulleys a few years ago while trying to sort out a belt chirp. Did all 3 for about 10 bucks. Cheap insurance.
Cheers,
Eric
Postmaster
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 4,452
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From: Southern California
For those who are interested, the bearing number for all the pulleys on the Aerostar is 6203. There are lots of those on Ebay. For my case, it was sold by packs of ten, and I still have tons leftover. I'm making my kids' toy carts with them now
Last edited by copper_90680; Apr 27, 2006 at 10:38 PM.
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2005
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From: Kiev, Ukraine
AeroColorado! My congratulations!
And 1 more quation about pulleys. My friend has aero with original fan (I have electric) and he wants to replace belts, but we tried to remove thes ####ing fan and we have no result. I tried to unscrew it with extreme force, but unsuccesfully! How to do it?
Pavel.....
And 1 more quation about pulleys. My friend has aero with original fan (I have electric) and he wants to replace belts, but we tried to remove thes ####ing fan and we have no result. I tried to unscrew it with extreme force, but unsuccesfully! How to do it?
Pavel.....