Belt Eater
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Joined: Mar 2007
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From: East Peoria, IL
Belt Eater
So i replaced the belt on my truck about 5 days ago because the old one was coming apart and squeaking. My new Gates belt started squeaking the 2nd day it was on and i noticed it stopped today. I opened up the hood and its coming apart too.
I have had a wet hood blanket for some time now, but i thought it was coolant overflowing when i had fuel in the reservoir (long story). However, i noticed it might be getting bigger. It has also always been wet on top of the battery, which i thought was coolant as well.
Then it came to me. Maybe my battery is leaking. THey are Interstates that are abotu 1.5 years old. How could i check this, i think it may be leaking and eating up my belts.
I have had a wet hood blanket for some time now, but i thought it was coolant overflowing when i had fuel in the reservoir (long story). However, i noticed it might be getting bigger. It has also always been wet on top of the battery, which i thought was coolant as well.
Then it came to me. Maybe my battery is leaking. THey are Interstates that are abotu 1.5 years old. How could i check this, i think it may be leaking and eating up my belts.
Of the next Riffraff East
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 8,679
Likes: 2
From: Concord NC
1st, I think if you had that much battery acid, you would see more than you belt being eat up.
2nd, anything that is getting you hood wet is not good and needs to be traced down.
3rd, are you sure you got the belt on correctly? It is possible to go the wrong way on some of the pulleys.
4th, fluids and pulleys don't mix and could cause one of them to be seizing up and eating your belts.
5th, Is all your pulleys in a good line?, buddy had one years ago and when we looked one of his pulleys was way out of line. Don't remember which one or why,
Last, any dripping while parked? Like under the water pump.
2nd, anything that is getting you hood wet is not good and needs to be traced down.
3rd, are you sure you got the belt on correctly? It is possible to go the wrong way on some of the pulleys.
4th, fluids and pulleys don't mix and could cause one of them to be seizing up and eating your belts.
5th, Is all your pulleys in a good line?, buddy had one years ago and when we looked one of his pulleys was way out of line. Don't remember which one or why,
Last, any dripping while parked? Like under the water pump.
Hotshot
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 11,286
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From: North of Greenville
You can have a "steam" leak on the coolant system that won't necessarily show a drip but at the same time will get everything wet from the water vapor spraying out.
Check your coolant level... top off if low, then run it and open the hood.... DO NOT feel around with your bare hands because if you do have a steam leak, you may not be able to see it before it blisters the *&#$ out of your hand or arm. Get a short piece of pipe, have it refrigerated, and wave it around your coolant hoses and see if it picks up a bunch of condensation from any location (hose rubbing, hose end connection, top of radiator, top of overflow container, etc.).
Check your power steering fluid, which is another potential culprit that has caused the demise of many a belt on numerous vehicles everywhere through the years.
Just a few thoughts that come to me right off the old bean.
Check your coolant level... top off if low, then run it and open the hood.... DO NOT feel around with your bare hands because if you do have a steam leak, you may not be able to see it before it blisters the *&#$ out of your hand or arm. Get a short piece of pipe, have it refrigerated, and wave it around your coolant hoses and see if it picks up a bunch of condensation from any location (hose rubbing, hose end connection, top of radiator, top of overflow container, etc.).
Check your power steering fluid, which is another potential culprit that has caused the demise of many a belt on numerous vehicles everywhere through the years.
Just a few thoughts that come to me right off the old bean.
Smokin
Joined: Jun 2006
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How do you know that the shredded belt and leak are connected? Could just be coincidence...
I will venture to bet you have a bad tensioner or bad pump/pulley thats tearing apart your belt, and that it's not related to whatever is getting everything all wet.
Does the wet stuff "smell" like anything? When in doubt, trust your nose!
I will venture to bet you have a bad tensioner or bad pump/pulley thats tearing apart your belt, and that it's not related to whatever is getting everything all wet.
Does the wet stuff "smell" like anything? When in doubt, trust your nose!
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Hotshot
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: North of Greenville
Originally Posted by zx250
OK, but what fluid would cause a belt to fail in 5 days? Would tranny fluid do it?
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Smokin
Joined: Jun 2006
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Originally Posted by F250_
though it seems to me that if the belt itself were not on correctly that it would track back into alignment shortly after starting up the engine.
Of the next Riffraff East
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 8,679
Likes: 2
From: Concord NC
Originally Posted by SpringerPop
A water pump bearing failure could cause both a leak and a belt mis-alignment.
Pop
Pop
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From: East Peoria, IL
im positive the belt is on right
other than that, i am not sure without taking a look asap, but the weather calls for a 1/2" of ice tonight so not likely within the next couple days
however, i have noticed my PS pump being noisier than usual and i topped it off a few days ago it was a little low and that helped quiet it down a little
other than that, i am not sure without taking a look asap, but the weather calls for a 1/2" of ice tonight so not likely within the next couple days
however, i have noticed my PS pump being noisier than usual and i topped it off a few days ago it was a little low and that helped quiet it down a little
Junior User
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 82
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From: Okanogan, WA
I'm leaning towards a bad tensioner. I had 4 belts go bad in the period of a year. The first one I replaced didn't break but shredded off several sections and I just left it and it went fine for 6 months. Then it came completely apart and tore out my oil dipstick. Upon closer inspection I realized that the domed washer that WAS on the tensioner had somehow broken in half and was missing. It allowed the tensioner to thrust outward. I then realized that this was probably the culprit on both belts. I replaced it and it was fine for several months and that I heard the tale tale "wop,wop,wop,wop" and realized that my belt was coming apart yet again. I thought.....no way this is related to the tensioner this time, but yet once again, the domed washer that I got from Ford broke again and this time I found half of it in the splash shield near the radiator. I called around and found that Ford had a different style that eliminated the washer and I haven't had a problem since. check your tensioner.
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