Belt tensioner problem

Sotarn · 05-19-2007, 02:16 PM

I just got a new belt tensioner because my belt was squeling like a pig, but the squeling is still there.

The belt feels a bit loose. In what position should the tensioner be when it's doing it's job. Mine feels like it isn't tensioning the belt.

Is there any way of tensioning the belt manually?
The belt is 1 month old

cgriffin_5139 · 05-19-2007, 02:44 PM

Take a bit of dish soap and put it on the belt see if that takes a way the squeling.

anthonytony · 05-20-2007, 06:03 AM

Try belt dressing you can get this at most part stores..

TerryS1980 · 05-20-2007, 06:37 AM

One of the pulleys may be out of line. Check for excessive wear on the outer edges of the belt.

shamaal · 05-20-2007, 12:46 PM

The tension design on these systems is adequate for the task, squeeling may be a sign of something wrong. A few easy troubleshooting steps you may not have taken yet.

1. Remove the belt. Spin the pulleys by hand , you're looking for roughness or binding. Common failures are the tensioner (replaced), alternator, idler and A/C Compressor clutch.
2. Start vehicle, listen for squeel. Still squeeling means belt driven component isn't problem.
3. Replace belt, turn A/C compressor off. Turn on and see if problem goes away. Alternately you can view the A/C compressor for when it spins. If squeeling stops A/C clutch is going bad (my current problem).
4. Turn wheels and listen for change in squeel. If pitch changes suspect power steering pump.
5. Observe water pump shaft. Does it move forward or backward? It should rotate but not move back and forth(bad water pump)

Those are the easy ones, others may have more.

Be careful around moving parts and keep your fingers, hair and clothing out of the moving machinery.

skoal_mint · 05-20-2007, 03:07 PM

get a new ideler wheel...my ranger and explorer did the same. I bought a new belt and it still made noise, put on a new iderler and it was fixed

bp1506 · 05-21-2007, 10:46 AM

My tensioner failed twice. The first time i put a new one in and the noise went away for about 3 months then came back. So the second time i replaced both the tensioner and the idler wheel. Now its been fine for like 8 months.

Sotarn · 05-21-2007, 11:37 AM

The voltmeter is in the lower part of the scale when the car screems. Could it be the alternator, or the alternator bearings that is bad?

05-19-2007, 02:16 PM	#1
Sotarn Wannabe Elite Explorer Sweden 97 Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 4 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	Belt tensioner problem I just got a new belt tensioner because my belt was squeling like a pig, but the squeling is still there. The belt feels a bit loose. In what position should the tensioner be when it's doing it's job. Mine feels like it isn't tensioning the belt. Is there any way of tensioning the belt manually? The belt is 1 month old

05-20-2007, 06:37 AM	#4
TerryS1980 Wannabe Elite Explorer South Louisiana 2000 5.0 Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 283 Vehicle Specs	One of the pulleys may be out of line. Check for excessive wear on the outer edges of the belt. __________________ ->2000 Explorer 5.0<- Updated Stereo Pics Last edited by TerryS1980; 05-20-2007 at 12:53 PM.

05-19-2007, 02:44 PM	#2
cgriffin_5139 B Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 3,574 Vehicle Specs	Take a bit of dish soap and put it on the belt see if that takes a way the squeling.

05-20-2007, 06:03 AM	#3
anthonytony Wannabe Elite Explorer KNOXVILLE TENN 2000 sport 4X4 Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 55 Vehicle Specs	Try belt dressing you can get this at most part stores..

05-20-2007, 12:46 PM	#5
shamaal Wannabe Elite Explorer Friensdwood, Texas 91 Mazda Navajo Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 1,293 Vehicle Specs	The tension design on these systems is adequate for the task, squeeling may be a sign of something wrong. A few easy troubleshooting steps you may not have taken yet. 1. Remove the belt. Spin the pulleys by hand , you're looking for roughness or binding. Common failures are the tensioner (replaced), alternator, idler and A/C Compressor clutch. 2. Start vehicle, listen for squeel. Still squeeling means belt driven component isn't problem. 3. Replace belt, turn A/C compressor off. Turn on and see if problem goes away. Alternately you can view the A/C compressor for when it spins. If squeeling stops A/C clutch is going bad (my current problem). 4. Turn wheels and listen for change in squeel. If pitch changes suspect power steering pump. 5. Observe water pump shaft. Does it move forward or backward? It should rotate but not move back and forth(bad water pump) Those are the easy ones, others may have more. Be careful around moving parts and keep your fingers, hair and clothing out of the moving machinery.

05-20-2007, 03:07 PM	#6
skoal_mint Wannabe Elite Explorer Geraldton ontario 97 explorer sport 4.0 Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 541 Vehicle Specs	get a new ideler wheel...my ranger and explorer did the same. I bought a new belt and it still made noise, put on a new iderler and it was fixed

05-21-2007, 10:46 AM	#7
bp1506 Wannabe Elite Explorer Calgary,AB 98 Sport Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 351 Vehicle Specs	My tensioner failed twice. The first time i put a new one in and the noise went away for about 3 months then came back. So the second time i replaced both the tensioner and the idler wheel. Now its been fine for like 8 months.

05-21-2007, 11:37 AM	#8
Sotarn Wannabe Elite Explorer Sweden 97 Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 4 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	The voltmeter is in the lower part of the scale when the car screems. Could it be the alternator, or the alternator bearings that is bad?