Halppp! Serp belt

[bkmc24]

I have a 96 5.0 4X4 (chris wells old explorer) and am having a huge issue with it.

Last week as i was driving home the serpentine belt broke/melted/gave way and wasnt spinning. I had no power steering/battery light came on/temp gauge went up with the quickness. I was almost home so i pulled over and let it cool down and then got it home. Had to stop 2 times to cool down in case.

Once i got it home i check and the belt just pulled off. The end where it broke is stretched and looks like it melted or was pulled apart.

Today I replaced the belt. No biggie. I get it on and start it up and one of the pulleys does not want to spin and is causing an awful squeaking noise. I'm not sure what one is it yet and but am thinking it is the alt because all the other ones spun fine. Also what worries me is that the belt is on properly according to the back of the cardboard it was in AND the Ford display under the hood but the tensioner pulley is spinning counter clockwise and according to the Ford display it needs to spin clockwise...how could this happen? Should it spin clockwise from my POV or should it be spinning clockwise looking from the motor out?

Im am super confused with what the hell is going on and any help would be great!

TIA


Ben

 

[bkmc24]

Halppp!

I have a 96 5.0 4X4 (chris wells old explorer) and am having a huge issue with it.

Last week as i was driving home the serpentine belt broke/melted/gave way and wasnt spinning. I had no power steering/battery light came on/temp gauge went up with the quickness. I was almost home so i pulled over and let it cool down and then got it home. Had to stop 2 times to cool down in case.

Once i got it home i check and the belt just pulled off. The end where it broke is stretched and looks like it melted or was pulled apart.

Today I replaced the belt. No biggie. I get it on and start it up and one of the pulleys does not want to spin and is causing an awful squeaking noise. I'm not sure what one is it yet and but am thinking it is the alt because all the other ones spun fine. Also what worries me is that the belt is on properly according to the back of the cardboard it was in AND the Ford display under the hood but the tensioner pulley is spinning counter clockwise and according to the Ford display it needs to spin clockwise...how could this happen? Should it spin clockwise from my POV or should it bespinning clockwise looking from the motor out?

Im am super confused with what the hell is going on and any help would be great!

TIA


Ben

 

[99SportX]

I would remove the belt once again and try to spin each pulley by hand. You should be able to spin them all by hand except the crank of course.

The sticker in the engine bay is shown as if you were looking at the front of the engine. I would go from that before I went off the package the belt came in. Proper belt routing is important.

 

[bkmc24]

The diagram is exactly the same on both the box and the truck...

Why would it spin counter clockwise?

 

[99SportX]

Depending on the belt routing, the pulleys may rotate the same direction as the crank, or it may not. According to the V8 routing, the crank rotates CW, water pump rotates CCW, alt rotates CW, tensioner pulley rotates CCW, PS pump rotates CW, AC rotates CW.

I guess I am not understanding the problem. If it is routed as per the diagram, then things are fine. It seems you have a bigger problem though, something froze up that caused the belt to melt in the first place.

 

[jremington59]

There's one pulley there that does nothing except the belt rides on it. It might be called an idler pulley? I have had 2 other explorers and had to replace it on both of them. I also thought it was the alternator as it makes a severe grinding noise.

 

[bkmc24]

I am getting it towed to the shop in the morning to get a better less freezing cold look at it and figure **** out.

What is messing me up is that it started twice just fine, minus the loud squeaking, and now turns over and is getting fuel but wont start..

 

[bkmc24]

There's one pulley there that does nothing except the belt rides on it. It might be called an idler pulley? I have had 2 other explorers and had to replace it on both of them. I also thought it was the alternator as it makes a severe grinding noise.

Did this cause it to make loud wretched squeaking noises?

 

[jremington59]

Yes, the bearings in the pulley get worn and it gets really loose, and then squeels and grinds.

 

[Spdrcer34]

Either your Idler Pulley or Tensioner Pulley has failed. Very Common replacement part. From my experience, they are typically a 100k-120k mile part....after that the sealed bearings fail from lack of lubrication. They start to squeek, and eventually fail taking the belt with it.

I once broke a belt when the tensioner pulley seized up on me, on the highway...I had to walk 4 miles to the parts store and buy the parts...sucked!

Ryan

 

[bkmc24]

Would they both spin fine without pressure but once the belt is on have problems and make the noise?

 

[Turdle]

Real quick just for a second thing to look for. Try running the engine, if you can get it started, without the belt on at all

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=161590&highlight=chirp

I have an idea
try starting it again real quick for me. Tell me if the oil pressure gauge comes up while you crank the engine.

Hold the gas pedal floored while cranking it, see if this gets a sputter.

 

[bkmc24]

It wont start but im sure thats because of it being cold as **** in ohio and the battery not having a decent charge. Getting a new charger and seeing whats up. If i can get it going ill let you know.

 

[Electrohacker]

Either your Idler Pulley or Tensioner Pulley has failed. Very Common replacement part. From my experience, they are typically a 100k-120k mile part....after that the sealed bearings fail from lack of lubrication. They start to squeek, and eventually fail taking the belt with it.

I once broke a belt when the tensioner pulley seized up on me, on the highway...I had to walk 4 miles to the parts store and buy the parts...sucked!

Ryan

you say it's "common" but I tried to get a new one once and no one had ne, not even the ford dealer.

I had to have new bearings pressed into it from napa at a local machine shop. The metal shield bearings look much better than the stock rubber seal ones.

this sounds EXACTLY like your issue.

in my case I found out when the pulley FLEW off the engine and left my belt on the ground in the parking lot at school. I skipped a class to go get a part and got it fixed.

 

[96eb96]

I strongly suggest immediate replacement of any idler and tensioner pulley if they are original. Spend $30 now, save yourself being stranded on some deserted road at 1am. When you are stuck you will think of this post and kick yourself for not doing it.

 

[bkmc24]

I think the tensioner is new. Idler not sure. will be ordering tomorrow.
Cant get it to start but im going ti have it put in a warm garage and a new battery charger since my sucks balls.

 

[bkmc24]

The pulley NAPA gave me isnt even the right one. The one that I have labeled as idler pulled is ribbed and the one they gave me is about an inch bigger and is not ribbed.

Any help as to where I can find that part?