Serpentine Belt Squeek

[ExplorerDMB]

Well, There is that little cricket that everyone knows of when the belt goes bad or loses a tooth or something weird. Anyway, It just happend recently, the weather has been extremely weird (63 one day, 32 the next)....so I blamed the problem on the weather. Well - now the squeeking is getting a little worse and I was going to replace the belt soon, but now when I spray lube on it, it doesn't want to go away. I've been trying to just spray the belt so I can either isolate if its the belt or the tensioner. I believe I'll replace the tensioner sometime this week - but I'll get someone in the shop to do it cause I believe tensioners are under warranty. I have one more month left on that thing - I'm gonna use it up! I go into the shop I work at the end of March for Inspection, so believe me - if anything has a slight of play in it or anything, I'm getting the warranty to replace it! But the main reason for the post is to figure out if anyone else has had a problem with the tensioner -- I only have a little under 71K on it.

-Drew

 

[gerry]

I had the exact same thing. Went away with some silicon spray. Shop replaced belt and idler pulley and all was fine for about a year. Just started chirping again last week.

 

[TSTONE]

Whatever you do don't use "belt dressing" on a serp belt, the belt will come apart.

 

[aldive]

The sound you describe could very well be caused by the tensioner.

Good luck ....

 

[BuffaloXplorer]

Many of us have needed to replace this item (some more than once). If it's not covered by the warranty, it's a 20 minute job and a $25 part - plus a new belt.

 

[F14CRAZY]

On my Limited I once had a non-tensioner idler pulley bearing go bad. Aout $25 from Ford. Advance Auto Parts couldn't get it. It's kind of in the center of the engine and doesn't power anything. Then a year later the alternator bearings went (or something else inside it).

 

[trucku]

I had a Cirp on my 2002 xls 4.0. I replaced my belt but before installing it. I used some sandpaper to get the glaze off of the fan/waterpump pulley. The Back side of the belt mates with that surface. Looked like the old belt shined it up really well since it was slipping. I did replace my tensioner pulley and idler pulley for maintenance reasons. They are cheap. Also when buying a new belt make sure its the right size. I bought a replacement from R&S Strauss and it was too long. My tensioner puller ended up rubbing my radiator hose. It almost cut it open (that woulda sucked). I used a flexible tape measure and it turns out it was a inch longer. Thes kinda of stores are notorious for having parts that don't fit or don't fit well, specified for vehicles.

Keep old belt in car as backup in case you ever have belt failure. Especially for those hard core trail guys.

 

[jordan23]

..just had my tensioner replaced a few weeks ago...same sound and yes...it did go away. Covered under my extended warranty along with some other repairs I needed done (Balljoints...timing chain and tensioner).


Good Luck!

 

[Rhett]

I used some sandpaper to get the glaze off of the fan/waterpump pulley. The Back side of the belt mates with that surface.

Anyone else have any experience doing this to a smooth pulley? I am interested...seems like it might be helpful.

 

[trucku]

It worked great, even for my old belt. I had to put the old one back on when I returned the new(longer) one for right size. The squeek was gone. My fan/water pump pulley is flat with no ribs. ( just in case somoene has a different style).

 

[ExplorerDMB]

Many of us have needed to replace this item (some more than once). If it's not covered by the warranty, it's a 20 minute job and a $25 part - plus a new belt.

If it's a 20 minute job thatd be great. I've already bought an OEM belt for like 25 bucks. I have to pay a 100 deductible, so if it's somewhere around that ball park anyway - I won't even bother with the warranty ordeal. Maybe I'll look into replacing both the Idler Pulley and Tensioner. Thanks everyone!

-Drew

EDIT: Reason I'm using an OEM/Motorcraft Belt is because NAPA belts tend to stretch easily (And I quote that from NAPA vendors and technicians at NAPA shops). Just FYI!

 

[trucku]

My belt cost $28 dollars from R&S Strauss. Don't pay @100 deductable to have them install it plus the price of the belt. I did it myself in a 10 minutes including me taking the glaze off waterpump pulley. I have always used belts from every place but the dealer without ever a problem. You can do it yourself with a socket wrinch. Use a long one for leverage...A breaker bar works great.

 

[ExplorerDMB]

Oh I know the belts are easy to do - I do them all the time at work. But I'm talking about the tensioner and idler pulleys. To save me time, I might as well pay someone within the shop I work for instead of me staying after 5pm to work on my own crap when the warranty and stuff will take care of it. I might wait til later this month to do it all - cause when I take it in for inspection, they will probably be replacing a lot of other things.

-Drew

 

[trucku]

The idler pulley came of with moderate effort. and the tensioner pulley the same. with the tensioner pulley you will have to use a socket in arm to hold it still while you tighten the bolt. Easy stuff in about 30 minutes. That includes inspecting everything.
Good luck

 

[ExplorerDMB]

I replaced the belt yesterday, and it seems to of fixed the problem. With the body lift is want too hard to do - it took about 3 minutes after getting the fresh air intake tube out of the way. The idler pulley looked okay, had a little rubber on it from the belt, but all in all - okay. The old belt showed hardly any wear on it, but it did seem a little stretched and had a loose feeling when bending it. 71K on it!

-Drew

 

[Rhett]

I always need a helper to put the belt back on. Me under the truck, holding the tensioner with the BB, and my helper up top, sliding the belt over the alternator pulley...

 

[gerry]

FYI,

Ford dealer told me there is a revised waterpump pulley. My order will be in next week, I'll post what/if there is any difference.

 

[ExplorerDMB]

Is it a recall or what? Thanks

-Drew

 

[spta97]

I always need a helper to put the belt back on. Me under the truck, holding the tensioner with the BB, and my helper up top, sliding the belt over the alternator pulley...

I guess it would be possible to do it with one person, but I also found the helper putting the belt on the alternator to be the easiest route. On my 2000 V8 it was also easier to take the belt off of the power steering pump - there is more room on that side.

Regarding the sqeak / chirp the first time mine was the tensioner, the second time it was the upper idler pulley.

 

[gerry]

Is it a recall or what? Thanks

-Drew

No, supposedly just a new (better?) design. We'll see.