'96 V8 -Squeeling Idler?

[Big Poppa]

I've been getting a squeeling noise every once in a while, it sounds like it's coming from the upper idler pulley, has anyone had a similar problem w/ the V8?
Is the idler pulley a dealer part, I can only find the tensioner pulley around here. Some parts stores call it an idler pulley, but it doesn't have the lips on the front and back. (any chance the replacement doesn't have the lips on it?)
Anyway- any ideas/ experience w/ this?

Thanks

 

[IgotTwo]

If its like my 97 SOHC, its a no brainer . Pull the belt and one bolt holds it in.
You can get it at NAPA $36?

You can also look at it while the engine is running to see if it flops around.
My belt was squeaking at starup and it was making the engine a little rough, especially with the AC. Thats how I checked mine.
I was told, if it craps out, those engine don't like to run without a belt. You can cause other porblems
Good luck

 

[Big Poppa]

Could you tell me what your "idler pulley" looked like- was it flat steel w/ a rasied lip on the front and back edges?

Does anyone know if you can just replace the bearings in them- cuz I can't find the whole thing

Thanks

 

[IgotTwo]

On my SOHC..... I think you have V8 ? improvise?
face the engine Left side
Follow the belt ...4"? single pulley with one bolt into it.
Its spring loaded.

Tip and trick?
I went to the parts place .....my guy is good.
He didn't have the exact belt for my SOHC.... like I can ever get parts for this thing.
Make them check the belt book .....he sized one a 1/4" shorter...... not only was it cheaper but I didn't have to wait to overnight the right one.
My X will never know and I didn't tell it

 

[Big Poppa]

So it was actually your tensioner (the one that puts tension on the belt) and not the idler?
Thanks

Has anyone replaced the idler pulley, the one on the very top, if so where did you get the pulley from or can I just get a bearing?

Thanks

 

[IgotTwo]

oopps
"never mind"
You're right I was talking tensioner

I will submit to wearing "the badge of disgrace" all day tomorrow

 

[Big Poppa]

ya, you'd better jk
Thanks anyways

Anyone else?

 

[rscamaro73]

Did you ever get this finished or is it still making noise ?

My 99 5.0 has been making noise for 3 months now. Been putting it off, tomorrow I jump at it.

Bought a tensioner, upper idler (the smooth one [back spin], the lower one is grooved [inside spin]), and a belt.

First thing I'm gonna do is see what Ican do to get a breaker bar into the tensioner & loosen it up with the motor spinning (no, I won't do it if I don't have the room), and see if the upper idler stops making noise.

I'm almost 100% sure its the source. Either that, or the PS, but the steering doesn't make any more (or less) noise when turning lock to lock.

So...I'll shoot for that. If it doens't work, I'll throw on the belt & tensioner. If THAT doesn't work.....I'll have lost my wits end, and spent close to $150 for nothing (alot for someone w/o a job right now).

Anyone else have any inspiration for me or anything I should consider ? I bought a Haynes manual. It doesn't say shiznit about belts or any pullies. Dicks.

Forgot to mention that it'll prolly be about 24-30 degrees outside when I do this. Yea me.......

 

[IgotTwo]

I’ll try again after my momentary confusion over idler and tensioner
Again, I have a 97 4.0 SOHC and I'm not sure about the V8 but:

My belt squeak started up again….and become “the squeak from Hell”
So I replaced the “idler” on my SOHC (which is really a “belt roller guide”) V8 might be different.

This is how I isolated my squeaky pulley:
Spray silicone (wd40, light lubricate) carefully on the tensioner (or idler) "bearing sleeve” without slopping it on the belt. Not always easy but:
Use the red plastic tube that comes with the spray can - which we all know is not long enough… so strip a length of insulation from a 12? or 14? gauge romex house wire and use it as a “long” extension to the spray tube. This will allow you hit the target with much more precision and not make a mess…I’m sure you have zero room…a well placed rag can catch any dripping on the belt. Start it up and listen…..if not, on to the next pulley.

I read under “squeaking belts:”
Dirty pulleys, antifreeze and water on the belt are killers.
It is not uncommon for a belt to “look good” but to squeak due too stretching and \or some unseen contaminates.
Any crud on the pulleys, idlers, tensioner should be “brake cleaned.”
Also make sure the belt is not out of alignment for any reason.

Some guys swear that WD40 on the belt will stop it. WD is a petroleum based product and is not the best thing for the belts. I avoided belt dressing because - it should work fine without it …..and spraying sticky crap that I might be cleaning off later….. was not my first choice.

Even after replacing both the idler and tensioner, the belt still squeaked a bit.
I noticed some glazing on the back of the belt. I scuffed it up the back of the belt with light sandpaper. That has seemed to do it for now. I probably should get a new belt.

Breaker bar on the tensioner?
Sounds like the V8 also has a “receiver” on the tensioner for a 3/8 socket wrench?
This may be stating the obvious but:
I use a 3/8th socket wrench with a short pipe…thin conduit works. This avoids the limited angles where a breaker wants to be. With a socket wrench, you can ratchet it to get “the travel and swing” to remove the belt.

Hope something above may help.
Good Luck

 

[rscamaro73]

I'm a lil pissed.

24 degrees outside, I grab some tool, and head out.

No biggie.

Figure out that everything is metric, get ticked. Glad I brought ALL the sockets. Look inside, left the ratchets in the garage. On time restraints, skip onto using the 3/8" 12" long breaker bar. 1/2" 18" long unit won't work w/ connections.

So, I get the 15mm socket on the tensioner after a few tried to turn it the correct way (from UNDER the truck, facing the wrong way). Leave it there, look up at it, have wife start the truck.

WHEEERRRRRRRRREEEEEEESSSSCCCCCCCHHHHHHHHHHSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHH

Then a cloud of dust, and I yell. Climb up top, breaker was in the way of the fan (love the plastic Ford fans). Squeal is gone. Shut it down, pull tools out (dumbass me)...restart. No noise. AT ALL. Squeal is gone.

Try it a few times, move the truck, no noise. Had it BEFORE I started. Hmmm....

Sent the wife off on her treck - hour long ride down 95 to the Philly airport to pick up a friend, and bring her back. We'll see what happens when she gets back.

Didn't replace a thing.

BUT......earlier I DID notice that the sound was a whir-whir noise, not a continuous squeal. Kinda pointed me a little towards the belt, and why I did what I did.

Might just need to replace the belt. BUT..I'll hold the parts. If its STILL making noise in a week, I'll swap it all over & hope that kills it.

QUESTION: the wear indicator on the tensioner - there is a set of 3 arrows pointing towards the radiator, as viewed from the top. And one facing the rear of the truck on the front end of the tensioner. The 'pointer'. Anyways, its on the right side of the middle arrow. Can anyone tell me if that is close to a stretched belt or PAST it ??

Thanks

 

[IgotTwo]

I don't know if I'm any help and I do not know about any wear indicator but:

My tensioner had a noticeable bounce with the car running ..as in weak spring ….as in throwing off a mild rough idle.

I didn't mention it but I also have mechanic’s stethoscope which I used to isolate the noise…but a old heater hose directed around in there will do it. You’ll get some fan whirl noise but I’m sure you will be able to isolate it.

I must say: a pretty gutsy move to start it up with a wrench on the tensioner!

Be careful big guy!
We don't want stories about anyone getting hurt!

 

[rscamaro73]

Yeah, it was kinda ignorant, but I wasn't holding anything (thought about it though )....and kept clear.

Wife came back after her run (hour each way, and made a few stops on the way back).

STILL NO NOISE.

Ok. Does anyone think this may be the belt or the tensioner ??

I did this earlier - took a black magic marker & put a stripe on the upper idler pulley (smooth one) and when I looked at it later, the mark was gone (as in rubbed thru). Think that the tensioner movement I gave it snugged the belt some and the idler pulley bearing might be going out ?

Ideas, comments.... ???

 

[BradE.]

I am having a similar problem right now on my OHV. I just replaced the belt yesterday and that didn't solve the problem. I turned the upper idler pully by hand and it was squeaking. Guess I need a new Idler pully too.

The belt turned out much easier to replace than I thought. I had never replaced an Explorer belt before, took me only about 10 minutes on the first try.

Seems we are all in the world of idler pully hell.

 

[rscamaro73]

What's your mileage ? I'm at about 66000.

Maybe this has something to do with it ? I dunno.

 

[BradE.]

Just over 80K

 

[rscamaro73]

WELL....it took me 2 months (waiting for good weather). I replaced the tensioner (all from underneath), the upper idler pulley (cake), and the belt. All by myself. Under an hour at that. My belt had a LITTLE bit more length on it than the new one, so I figured that THAT might be a cause (also thought I had a bad PS pump or clutch fan).

Swapped it all out. Problem solved.

Just wanted to pass along my info. Thanks to everyone for thier info as well.