97 belt problem

[MUDDOG4x4]

97 Explorer with a 5.0

The Problem: Serpentine belt comes off all the time

My Nephew has this truck & the belt come off all the time... Mostly when it rains or snows a lot... So we were thinking something is getting wet & making it slip off somewhere.. Today it came off & no snow or rain...

Some have mentioned that 1 of the idler pulleys is supposed to be grooved & some say no...

Anyone have any ideas or if there was a recall on it??...

With the miles he has to drive for work & having a 4 month old baby I want to get this fixed for him

Thanks...

 

[swetrid]

There wasnt any recalls on this concern. Mine doesnt have any ribbed idlers either. Double check your tensioner to make sure it is ok and double check your belt routing. Your belt could be wrong length or tensioner weak which allows alot of slipping under wet conditions.

 

[username1]

are you sure the belt is the right size?is the the proper amount of tension on the belt?

 

[Peanut74]

You didn't say if the belt was new or not. If your belt is old it may have stretched to a point where the tensioner doesn't work.

 

[imp]

Is tension sufficient? Who the hell knows, or can measure it? Go BUY a new tensioner, install it with a NEW BELT, and consider replacing any IDLER pulley on there also, especially if the bearing feels loose, rough, or a little wobbly.

imp

 

[MUDDOG4x4]

New belt... Belt is tight & there is no extra play in any of the idlers or pulleys....

Someone mentioned that 1 of the idlers was supposed to have a ridge on it so the belt dosent slip off... Is this true??

Iv never had a vehicle that has had this prob...

 

[Peanut74]

Ok so the belt is new and I am assuming that you have it installed correctly. For me it was a worn out bearing on the center idler pulley. Since it did not have a ridge the belt would come off due to the idler pulley sagging a bit.

Also, make sure you have the belt going to correct side of the tensioner. Strange as it sounds I have seen some people do just that.