Tensioner Worn out????
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Tensioner Worn out????
Hi all...need help with my serpentine belt slipping/not rotating. Noticed some squealing that went away after a few seconds last few days, however yesterday as driving into driveway PS went out and battery light came on. Acted as if the belt had broke. Opening the hood it was fine. Started truck up and belt wouldn't move except periodically for maybe one revolution, the damper pully just spinning and the belt catches every now and then for another revolution.
Checked the pulleys and they all seem to spin fine, vacuum one is a little stiff but I assume that is how it is suppose to be. They also do not wobble. My belt is a goodyear.
So, could this belt have stretched such that the tensioner doesn't put enough tension on it? The belt does not look too worn. How do you determine if the tensioner is bad and should be replaced? Napa and the Ford dealership charge the same amount ~$98. Looking for help/recommendations on whether to replace the belt, tensioner, or both?
Thanks,
Terry.
95 F250 4WD, downpipe, shim, no muff, open cat (sweet whine sound
)
Checked the pulleys and they all seem to spin fine, vacuum one is a little stiff but I assume that is how it is suppose to be. They also do not wobble. My belt is a goodyear.
So, could this belt have stretched such that the tensioner doesn't put enough tension on it? The belt does not look too worn. How do you determine if the tensioner is bad and should be replaced? Napa and the Ford dealership charge the same amount ~$98. Looking for help/recommendations on whether to replace the belt, tensioner, or both?
Thanks,
Terry.
95 F250 4WD, downpipe, shim, no muff, open cat (sweet whine sound
)
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I changed out the belt with a cheap duralast from autozone ($31) and everything seems to work. In comparing the duralast belt with the older goodyear gater, the goodyear was about an inch or more longer. Anyway, replacing the belt did the trick it appears.
Will avoid goodyear gator belts in the future since this one was only about a year old.
Would still like to know how to tell if the tensioner is going out or when it needs replacment? If anyone knows I would appreciate knowing.
Thanks,
Terry.
Will avoid goodyear gator belts in the future since this one was only about a year old.
Would still like to know how to tell if the tensioner is going out or when it needs replacment? If anyone knows I would appreciate knowing.
Thanks,
Terry.
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 5,903
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From: MICHIGAN
Gator belts last alot longer than that unless you drive over 100K miles per year. I think you have something else going on. IMO
Tensioner: Remove the belt to test it, should move freely (no binding) through-out the entire range. Push down on it, if it moves you probably need to replace it, also wiggle it fore and aft, shouldn't be sloppy. Check the idler pulley too.
Check anything that it spins for binding. AC compressor, vacuum pump, water pump, PS ect.
CJ
Tensioner: Remove the belt to test it, should move freely (no binding) through-out the entire range. Push down on it, if it moves you probably need to replace it, also wiggle it fore and aft, shouldn't be sloppy. Check the idler pulley too.
Check anything that it spins for binding. AC compressor, vacuum pump, water pump, PS ect.
CJ
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,816
Likes: 3
From: River Valley AR
Another way to check your tensioner is to push or pull on the beltwhile it's still on. Don't move it forward or aft, just up or down. The tensioner should make the belt snap back into place if it's working well. It's easiest to do where you have a long distance between two pulleys.
Most tensioners have some type of marking on them also. the "base" of the tensioner has marks and the tensioner arm has marks also. These marks give you an indication of whether or not you are running out of adjustment.
IMO it's not very common to stretch a serpentine belt. I wonder if the belt was the correct size to begin with, and if it was routed correctly? grooved pulleys should touch the grooved side of the belt, smooth pulleys should touch the smooth side of the belt.
I think you definitely lost a lot of belt tension somehow. If one of the driven pulleys was locked up the motor would probably roast the belt pretty quickly, assuming the tensioning system was working.
Most tensioners have some type of marking on them also. the "base" of the tensioner has marks and the tensioner arm has marks also. These marks give you an indication of whether or not you are running out of adjustment.
IMO it's not very common to stretch a serpentine belt. I wonder if the belt was the correct size to begin with, and if it was routed correctly? grooved pulleys should touch the grooved side of the belt, smooth pulleys should touch the smooth side of the belt.
I think you definitely lost a lot of belt tension somehow. If one of the driven pulleys was locked up the motor would probably roast the belt pretty quickly, assuming the tensioning system was working.
