Serpentine Belt

[Badali05]

I was told by Goodyear, that I needed my Serpentine Belt replaced, has anyone ever had this done before? If so much did it cost?

Thanks, Derek

 

[BigBOB]

It'll cost you between 50 and 100 bucks to have a place like Goodyear do it or between 15 and 30 for you to do it yourself. Go to Autozone or a place like that and get a belt.

If you can't put it on, have a friend do it. You'll save a ton of money and it's a 15-30 minute procedure if youv'e never done it before

 

[DeRocha]

Serpentine belt (aka fan belt) is a piece of cake to replace. A good belt will run $20-$30 ish and can be installed in 15 minutes...

 

[mikeh]

Here is a link to a write up.

Dead Link Removed

Enjoy,
mikeh

 

[bipolarbob]

It's a pain in the @$$ but only takes 10 min.

 

[Dre]

It's not really that much of a pain... get a wrench, release presure on the belt by turning tensioner, take old belt off, replace it with new one (make sure it's on the right way) and voila!! you're done... more like a 2 minute job. For others, I had this done at Jiffy Lube at the time of the oil change - $50.00 total cost.

good luck!

 

[expo5.0]

its a pain in the ass on my 5.0

i couldn't figure out how to turn the tensioner without jacking the car up and doing it from below and having someone else put the belt on...

maybe i'm an idiot- anyone found a better way?

 

[james t]

the 5liter belt is a HARDCORE pain if done by yourself. i invented new swear words replacing mine. the 4.0 ohv was not bad at all (moms old ride back in the day).

 

[tmsoko]

The 5.0L is pretty simple. I usually pull my air box, then you have great access to the tensioner with a ratchet. This takes less than 10 minutes. I have done it even quicker when swaping out pullies for my blower. The trick is to lube the nipples on the air box, so it pops in an out easier next time.

 

[expo5.0]

it must be different on the 96 or something. 'cause i don't even have an air box, but i definitely tried pulling my k and n and all the rest of the intake last time before asking for help with the job.

 

[james t]

todd- there must be something different about your setup than a stock 5 liter explorer. there simply is no room to get to the tensioner from the top. you can get to it from the bottom, but its still a PITA and you need the hands and arms of an 11 yr old. im not doubting you but i just did this last week and i saw no possible way to get to it from the top without removing the fan.

 

[tmsoko]

I just did it today, as I put a larger pulley on my blower. 15 minutes including the pulley change.

I am using a stock explorer airbox, that takes a panel air filter. I think some of the earlier trucks had a cone type filter with a round housing. Regardless, remove the air filter and MAF, then there is enough room to fit an offset box end or a ratched onto the bolt of the idler pulley. Pull up on the wrench and release the tension.

 

[james t]

todd, im no mechanic, but uh lets just say that changing a serp belt is something that i can handle. seriously, the airbox is no issue whatsoever. really, there is something different about your setup than a stock 5liter X.... at least a 96 model. there is no possible way on earth to reach my tensioner from the top unless you are a 5 year old bodybuilder. you gotta go from underneath. im almost ashamed to admit it, but it was a PITA. the tensioner is about 3/4" away from the fan shroud, and the oil cooler is right in the way. i was holding the tensioner open with a cheater bar on a ratchet with my shoulder while wrestling the belt on. i threw a wrench sometime during the process, and im almost sure my neighbor's kids heard some profanity they didnt learn in grade school. honestly, changing a stupid belt is no different to me than changing plugs, and i will admit it was difficult on my model explorer.

 

[Hartman]

Can't really compare an 03 V8 to a 96 V8. First off, they're differnet motors, different clearances because everything in the engine bay is designed different, and I think the newer models have a bigger engine bay.

 

[expo5.0]

he's talking about the ranger swapped 5.0- lol

 

[Hartman]

Oh my bad, but my argument still stands, the motor is in different vehicles.

 

[tmsoko]

The engine bay of the Explorer V8 and my Ranger with the Explorer engine are identical - I had a 1998 V8 mounty before we got the '03. (BTW, the '03 has way more room under the hood).

As for the differences, not sure what they would be. Take a look at my picture page, there are some shots of the engine out of the truck, showing the belt routing.

When I remove the air box, I am able to reach in under the upper radiator hose, from where the air box is. Almost from the side. I put an offset craftsman professional box end wrench on the pulley bolt at ~9'oclock position (wrench horizontal pointing toward passengers side). Pull up on it, release tension, let the wrench down until it hits the frame and it stays tight. Re-run the belt, pull up, slip over upper-center idler and release wrench.

Do you have any pictures of the 96? I would be interested to see differences. As for the oil cooler, are you speaking of when you are on the underside?

 

[james t]

Todd, ill try to get some pics of it Wed or Thursday (with the intake tubing off).

 

[casey_wa]

I am now in the process of swapping out the serpentine belt, idler pulley and tensioner on my 96 Explorer 5.0...I have to agree that as of now it is not looking like an easy job. Appears at this time that the best way to the tensioner is from below...does not look like I can get access by removing the air box. The Ford service information I have on cd is too basic to be of any help.

I will take photos as I go and post for others in the future. Not sure yet how to remove the tensioner...but will figure it out somehow.

Casey

 

[tmsoko]

If you are just removing the idler pulley / bearing, you need to loosen the bolt at the center of the pulley. if you are removing the entire tensioner assy, there are 2 or 3 bolts that hold it to the alumium alternator bracket.

FEAD Picture

As you can see in the picture, there is one gold bolt above the pulley, there is one behind it (once tension is released, you will see it. There may be one more behind my bracket, I can't remember.

As for removing the air box, it just lets you have access from the side - right at the tensioner.