Serpentine Belt issues
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Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Lake Forest Park, WA
Serpentine Belt issues
I have a little mystery for y'all. I was driving the other day (cold weather- approx 15 F), and my serpentine belt shredded. Managed to drive a mile or so to my driveway. The belt was shredded on the fan side (and had come completely off), but it wasn't torn in two. Got a new belt and installed it, but upon test-cranking, found that it was riding up one ridge on the crank. All the other ribbed pulleys were fine (PS, AC). The smooth pulleys had the belt move a little, however. Thinking I didn't set it right, I reinstalled the belt on the crank and tried again. Same result (belt rides up one groove, towards the fan). I perused the archives, and one comment was that someone simply trimmed one groove off the belt and everything was happy. The belt found it's "groove", and didn't act up anymore. Doesn't fix the underlying problem, but 1) is this a good fix 2) any clue what is going on? 3) Do I need to get the crank fixed?
Oh, and BTW, I am sure that I threaded the belt on correctly!
'92 aerostar, 4.0L, AWD. AC+P/S
Oh, and BTW, I am sure that I threaded the belt on correctly!
'92 aerostar, 4.0L, AWD. AC+P/S
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: SoCal
Check to see if the last pulley feeding the belt to the crank pulley is bent or otherwise displaced or wobbling. If you're talking about the 4l engine, that would be the waterpump pulley. They should all be perfectly lined up.
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Joined: Oct 2009
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If the pulley is int he incorrect place, it most often means the bearing is failing and the pulley should be replaced. I learned this the hard way, but pulleys are not that expensive, and most, other than OE pulleys will not consistently last through 2 belt change cycles, so the idler and tensioner pulleys should always be checked, and if they have any looseness, wobble, or resistance as they spin, they should be replaced.
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: SoCal
Are you talking about the pulley on the clutch of the AC compressor? I think it's held onto the snout of the compressor body (not shaft) by a C-clip. If that pulley or bearing is loose, it will try to engage the compressor at random times, and could eventually burn out the clutch. You will need essentially a new A/C clutch.
But if it's not loose, and still sticking out of the plane of the belt, it means the bracket it's mounted on is loose. I think that bracket also has the PS pump on it, at least on the 4 liter engines.
But if it's not loose, and still sticking out of the plane of the belt, it means the bracket it's mounted on is loose. I think that bracket also has the PS pump on it, at least on the 4 liter engines.
Postmaster
Joined: Oct 2009
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No, I'm talking about the idler and tensioner pulleys. If they go loose, they will set a twist in the belt, and could cause it to want to climb off the other pulleys.
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Well, let me give some background info. The compressor is only 2 years old and it spins just fine. I just recently noticed that when I look at the side profile of the pulley's the compressor seems to stick out just a little more than the other belts. I have also changed the idler pulley that is between the crankshaft and compressor on the 92 3.0. But, ever since I installed that sucker, it has had a slight wobble, and the belt seems to ride right on the edge. What I think I'll do is just buy a replacement Motorcraft idler assembly and maybe that will fix the wobble, and stop the belt from riding on the compressors edge.
http://info.rockauto.com/getimage/ge...raft/YS165.jpg
http://info.rockauto.com/getimage/ge...raft/YS165.jpg
Last edited by CarCrazy1001; Apr 2, 2011 at 10:20 AM. Reason: Added photo
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Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: SoCal
But it does sound like the idler pulley may be bad, so replacing it is in order.
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Joined: May 2011
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I had a "learning experience on a Taurus with a 3.0. This was my first time changing the belt so I had went in and cut the belt with my knife. After installing a brand new belt it self destructed the next day. I figure that when I cut the belt the tensioner snapped and tweeked the tensioner.
Everything fine when the tensioner was replaced.
Everything fine when the tensioner was replaced.
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