Solved 1997 Ford Explorer SOHC 4.0 XLT BELT tensioner rattle

[XLTDRIVER97]

I've had a problem with the serpentine belt for a while now on my 97 Explorer SOHC XLT, my tensioner spring looks like it's smacking up against the side of the tensioner body... Got a new belt at 86.5 after my previous new belt started squealing. The squealing went away but now I have this knock coming from that area. I've made sure the belt is routed correctly as well. I have a new brand new tensioner on it and got another one (tensioner) yesterday to see if maybe it had just gone bad but same thing happened on the new one. Not sure what is happening or if someone else has had similar problems? I have a video of what's happening but it's telling me my file is large and cant be uploaded... Any help would be appreciated!

 

[amj441]

If you can try uploading the video to YouTube or to a google drive and share the link.

Do you have a picture of the tensioners?

 

[XLTDRIVER97]

video link

 

[XLTDRIVER97]

that's what is happening, new belt, tensioner, alternator, idler pulley. It's creating a loud knock on impact, not seen in the video but it gets worse.

 

[XLTDRIVER97]

If you can try uploading the video to YouTube or to a google drive and share the link.

Do you have a picture of the tensioners?

The video is below, I do not have a picture of the tensioner, but it is a spring loaded tensioner.

 

[410Fortune]

Take the belt off see if noise persists

Tensioner action looks normal

Likely your timing cassette making the noise not the serpentine system

Remove belt, start engine, see if noise still there, shut it down
Only run it for a minute or two w no belt

Spin all other pullies while belt is off too
Look for any roughness idler

 

[amj441]

Take the belt off see if noise persists

Tensioner action looks normal

Likely your timing cassette making the noise not the serpentine system

Remove belt, start engine, see if noise still there, shut it down
Only run it for a minute or two w no belt

Spin all other pullies while belt is off too
Look for any roughness idler

I agree with checking the idler pulley and ensure that theres no play. Something sounds rattly like a loose bearing.

Hard to hear anything timing chain wise as there is a lot of road noise in the video. I dont think it is timing chain from what I can hear.

 

[XLTDRIVER97]

Take the belt off see if noise persists

Tensioner action looks normal

Likely your timing cassette making the noise not the serpentine system

Remove belt, start engine, see if noise still there, shut it down
Only run it for a minute or two w no belt

Spin all other pullies while belt is off too
Look for any roughness idler

Take the belt off see if noise persists

Tensioner action looks normal

Likely your timing cassette making the noise not the serpentine system

Remove belt, start engine, see if noise still there, shut it down
Only run it for a minute or two w no belt

Spin all other pullies while belt is off too
Look for any roughness idler

Did what you said and noise stopped. Placed a flathead screwdriver between the tensioner and that little leaflet and noise stopped, so I went and got a 85.5 in belt. Which stopped noise and tensioner is sitting in the middle now. Weird because everyone was telling me that the belt sizing was 86.5 rather than 85.5. But anyway it runs amazing now. Thank you guys for your help!

 

[410Fortune]

97 was long ago
It’s possible one or more of your pullies are smaller then they were from factory
I’m sure you have the tensioner bolted on correctly because it’s slotted

Well done!
So glad it was simple
I’m a moderator so I marked the thread as solved and added the word belt to the title otherwise people
Will come in here for timing chain rattles