Replacing Serpentine Belt and Tensioner

[Bob Explorer 200]

I've had a problem with a squealing noise from my serpentine belt lately and want to replace the belt and tensioner on my 2002 Explorer (4 Liter engine) and have a few questions.

First of all, I can't really get under the truck to get at the tensioner or belt (age and health issues), so I'll have work on it from above and remove the fan and fan shroud to do this. One of the the posts that came up on a search mentioned that I'm going to need a special tool to remove the fan and this tool is available at almost any parts store. Can anyone better identify the tool by name so that the people at the parts store will understand what I'm asking for?

The under hood sticker showing the routing diagram for the belt is in good shape and legible, so I'll be able to route it correctly. But how do I relieve the tension on the tensioner in order to remove the belt? I've got a breaker bar and sockets. Do I have to fit a socket onto a hex head nut or does the breaker bar head fit into a square hole?

And I assume it's just a matter of torquing the tensioner to relieve the spring tension on the belt. Is that correct?

I've already got the new tensioner and it seems like it should be easy to install once the fan and shroud are removed. Has anyone had any problems on this?

Anything else I should do during or after I do the work? Any and all help will be welcome here.

 

[lincolnshibuya]

you can borrow the serpentine belt tool from the parts store or buy one in harbor freight for around $20. It's slimmer than a breaker bar so it fits perfectly on that tight space. To release tension you pull the tool clockwise. You can install the tensioner without removing the fan or the shroud.

 

[Number Twelve]

The "special tool" I used to get the fan off was a Crescent Wrench and a brass hammer.
Just bop it real fast. It will unscrew.

Yes, the tensioner hole fits a standard breaker bar.

 

[mountaineer2004]

Or you could use a short piece of chain. Remove one of the idler pulleys and re-install its bolt through a chain link. Remove one of bolts for water pump pulley (not the bolts for WP itself). Re-install WP pulley bolt through a chain link. Fan fan/clutch is now immobile. That's how I do it, anyway.