Serpentine Belt, Which size?

[Parash]

I have a Ford Explorer 2012 Limited 3.5L. Do I have the Heavy Duty alternator or not? There's two belts to choose from but it depends on what alternator I have.

 

[peterk9]

You can run your VIN on the Ford ETIS site and it will give you a long list of items you have which should include the alternator.
Vehicle Lookup

Peter

Link no longer provides the mentioned list of parts.

 

[Parash]

Thanks! Found Heavy Duty alternator under the long list of items!

 

[bigdude2468]

Going to change the serpentine belt on our 2014XLT, 3.5 L NA engine. Two different belts are shown, one for standard duty alternator the other for heavy duty alternator. How can I tell which one I have? Widnow sticker does not mention charging system. I do have the towing package if that makes a difference.

 

[peterk9]

I don't know if this will help; Search Results | Auto Nation Ford White Bear Lake
I'm guessing it is likely the HD belt. A parts store might be able to help by running your VIN. You can also enter you VIN in the site I linked.

Peter

 

[texsn95]

I entered my VIN and ETIS only shows my current vehicle type and color and the old Sync recall. No other list, is that all it shows now? Do all Limiteds have the 200amp alternator?

 

[ncsuengineer256]

My 2014 Limited does have the 200 amp alternator. If you can shine a flashlight on the backside of the alternator, you'll see the amperage on the label. Mine has 200 and then 12V printed below that.

 

[peterk9]

I entered my VIN and ETIS only shows my current vehicle type and color and the old Sync recall. No other list, is that all it shows now? Do all Limiteds have the 200amp alternator?

ETIS stopped showing the features some time ago.

Peter

 

[monkeybutler6]

Trying to find the correct belt for my 2011 XLT also. There are way too many options.

 

[Mbrooks420]

Trying to find the correct belt for my 2011 XLT also. There are way too many options.

Have you tried actually looking at your alternator?

 

[peterk9]

Trying to find the correct belt for my 2011 XLT also. There are way too many options.

Belts & Pulleys for 2011 Ford Explorer | Genuine Ford Auto Parts

parts.levittownfordparts.com

Seems to be just the one.

Peter

 

[monkeybutler6]

Have you tried actually looking at your alternator?

I'm going to look at it tonight when I get home from work. I figured there would be a simpler way to find this information.

 

[Mbrooks420]

I'm going to look at it tonight when I get home from work. I figured there would be a simpler way to find this information.

I’d be more apt to trust the actual vehicle than something posted online. Shouldn’t take more than 5 minutes.

Are you sure there’s more than one belt? The link PeterK9 showed a single discontinued belt, and it’s replacement part.

 

[monkeybutler6]

Judging from Rock auto there are different alternators for this vehicle that must have different alternator pulley sizes, because there are at least 3 different belts on Rock auto. You're right checking the alternator is the best way to tell.

 

[Mbrooks420]

Judging from Rock auto there are different alternators for this vehicle that must have different alternator pulley sizes, because there are at least 3 different belts on Rock auto. You're right checking the alternator is the best way to tell.

I’d stick the the ford factory parts lists, and use that number as a cross reference.

 

[ncsuengineer256]

I've got a 2014 Limited. It looks to be a 200 A unit, but I put the Dayco 5060450 belt on it. It has almost the same specs as the recommended Gates belt for the 200 A alternator.

Dayco 5060450:
Effective Length 45.08 in.
Effective Length 1145.04 mm

Gates K060450:
Effective Length (in) 45.12
Effective Length (mm) 1146

Sure is confusing trying to figure all this out. I've not had any problems so far with the Dayco. Has anyone else? I'm 99% confident that a 1 mm difference in the effective length is negligible.

I attached an image of the sticker on my alternator below:

 

[Truth]

I have a 200 amp 2014 Limited 3.5 L Explorer with 189,000 miles. Last year a light came up that said "Charging system fault". My wife said she had sèen that 2 x before. I noticed that the steering felt different. Turns out, Ford programmed the car so the Electric Assist Steering shuts down if you ignore that warning, and it will do it at highway speed. It did. We were fortunate to get off the road without wrecking. Shut the car off and it locks up for good. Ford then says you have to replace the whole rack and pinion steering unit. So I got one, installed it, had it programmed, bought a new battery, and for under $1,000.00 got it going again. I suspected there was nothing wrong with the original, so I kept it.
This year, the same thing happened. Warning light: "Charging system fault". Steering wheel hard to turn. This time I was close to home. (¼ mile) Went home, shut it off, restarted, sure enough, steering completely locked up. Battery (850 cca) was indeed low. Belt looked cracked, so I bought a new parts house aftermarket tensioner and Gates belt. Their computer called for a 45⅛" belt. It went on, but it was a fight. The tensioner stops are practically touching, and they do touch when you rev the engine briefly, chattering for a second or less. That belt is too short. But, I trickle charged the 10 month old battery, and, vìolà, no more code, and the steering works again. Went back to the parts house yesterday with the VIN, and now they have 2 entirely DIFFERENT belt lengths showing for a 200 amp limited explorer, 2014 3.5 L. I came home with a Gates 45¾ inch belt, per the new info on their computer. As soon as it is light enough to see, I will try installing it. It never occurred to me to replace the tensioner, but I talked to an honest friend who told me that a new tensioner and belt solves the "charging system fault" warning/electric assist steering shutdown issue 95% of the time. And for less than $75 bucks. I am going to suggest the likely possibility that Ford Motor Company programs the steering shutdown into the software on purpose, and that the Electric Assist Steering/Rack and Pinion Steering assembly is fine.
I dissambled my original rack and checked it. No leaks, no binding rack, no damaged belt, no visible damage anywhere. Electric motor that turns the tiny cogged (vacuum cleaner looking) belt, works, so I have to question the motivation of FoMoCo for justifying programming into my car's computer an EXTREMELY DANGEROUS and potentially DEADLY steering wheel lock-up that can and DID occur at highway speed. EVEN IF the circuit board fried on the rack and pinion itself, you just MIGHT still need to use the steering wheel, don'tcha think? I have never seen such engineering idiocy in my 64 years. A power steering pump is all you need. You do not need $20,000.00 worth of high tech cameras and electric steering. You do not need to be able to take a nap or take your hands off your steering wheel while driving your car. We do not need cars that drive themselves. We need simple, safe, and reliable. We need the non-drivers to take the train. And Ford needs to be held accountable for this fraudulent scheme to sell unnecessary steering parts and then "program" them for as much as $500.00. How many crashes have there already been? And where is there ANY consumer protection agency looking out for US? As my old Granddad would say 50 years ago, "This world is going to hell on greased skids."

 

[peterk9]

^^ Welcome to the Forum.
There are a couple of threads on the power steering issue but I don't recall anyone posting that their steering became locked after trying to restart the vehicle. In many instances, the restart restored the power steering. Without EPAS, the steering becomes difficult to turn but is still operable. I'm curious as to where you found the info stating Ford programmed the EPAS to shut down after ignoring the warnings.

2011 - 2018 Explorer Power Steering Issue

Has anyone had a power steering assist fault code show up? It has happened to me about a dozen times and you have no power steering when it does. Most of the time it can be killed and re-started and it will reset, but today it will not reset and I'm 2 hours from home having to man-handle it...

www.explorerforum.com

Power Steering Issues?

Welcome from Colorado country! Has anyone experienced a scraping sound when turning the wheel and also no power steering at all at times, luckily when starting up and not moving? Mechanics are saying $2700 to fix and has nothing to do with EPAS Sensor recall. Is this a common defect of am I the...

www.explorerforum.com

Ford issued a recall for some 2011-2013 Explorers due to the issue. As for the number of crashes attributed to the issue;
"An April 2014 report stated that fifteen low-speed accidents, including two injuries, had been attributed to the Ford steering recall problem. The report also alleged that the Ford steering recall problem was responsible for an additional five accidents and six injuries."

Google Search

Peter

 

[Mbrooks420]

I have a 200 amp 2014 Limited 3.5 L Explorer with 189,000 miles. Last year a light came up that said "Charging system fault". My wife said she had sèen that 2 x before. I noticed that the steering felt different. Turns out, Ford programmed the car so the Electric Assist Steering shuts down if you ignore that warning, and it will do it at highway speed. It did. We were fortunate to get off the road without wrecking. Shut the car off and it locks up for good. Ford then says you have to replace the whole rack and pinion steering unit. So I got one, installed it, had it programmed, bought a new battery, and for under $1,000.00 got it going again. I suspected there was nothing wrong with the original, so I kept it.
This year, the same thing happened. Warning light: "Charging system fault". Steering wheel hard to turn. This time I was close to home. (¼ mile) Went home, shut it off, restarted, sure enough, steering completely locked up. Battery (850 cca) was indeed low. Belt looked cracked, so I bought a new parts house aftermarket tensioner and Gates belt. Their computer called for a 45⅛" belt. It went on, but it was a fight. The tensioner stops are practically touching, and they do touch when you rev the engine briefly, chattering for a second or less. That belt is too short. But, I trickle charged the 10 month old battery, and, vìolà, no more code, and the steering works again. Went back to the parts house yesterday with the VIN, and now they have 2 entirely DIFFERENT belt lengths showing for a 200 amp limited explorer, 2014 3.5 L. I came home with a Gates 45¾ inch belt, per the new info on their computer. As soon as it is light enough to see, I will try installing it. It never occurred to me to replace the tensioner, but I talked to an honest friend who told me that a new tensioner and belt solves the "charging system fault" warning/electric assist steering shutdown issue 95% of the time. And for less than $75 bucks. I am going to suggest the likely possibility that Ford Motor Company programs the steering shutdown into the software on purpose, and that the Electric Assist Steering/Rack and Pinion Steering assembly is fine.
I dissambled my original rack and checked it. No leaks, no binding rack, no damaged belt, no visible damage anywhere. Electric motor that turns the tiny cogged (vacuum cleaner looking) belt, works, so I have to question the motivation of FoMoCo for justifying programming into my car's computer an EXTREMELY DANGEROUS and potentially DEADLY steering wheel lock-up that can and DID occur at highway speed. EVEN IF the circuit board fried on the rack and pinion itself, you just MIGHT still need to use the steering wheel, don'tcha think? I have never seen such engineering idiocy in my 64 years. A power steering pump is all you need. You do not need $20,000.00 worth of high tech cameras and electric steering. You do not need to be able to take a nap or take your hands off your steering wheel while driving your car. We do not need cars that drive themselves. We need simple, safe, and reliable. We need the non-drivers to take the train. And Ford needs to be held accountable for this fraudulent scheme to sell unnecessary steering parts and then "program" them for as much as $500.00. How many crashes have there already been? And where is there ANY consumer protection agency looking out for US? As my old Granddad would say 50 years ago, "This world is going to hell on greased skids."

You complain about features that are entirely optional. I purchased a new car with none of those features. Next time, I suggest you do the same.

I’m also very skeptical that it’s “programmed to lock up at highway speed”.

 

[peterk9]

You complain about features that are entirely optional. I purchased a new car with none of those features. Next time, I suggest you do the same.

I’m also very skeptical that it’s “programmed to lock up at highway speed”.

It doesn't lock up at any speed. It may seem like it does because it reverts to manual steering which takes a lot of effort.

Peter