Shredded Serpentine Belt on the PIU

[DHG2496]

I shredded the belt last night while I was out driving and thankfully made it back safely. Are these belts known to go out naturally due to idle ours or is there a typical pulley that tends to destroy these that I should be closely inspecting tonight when I get under the vehicle?

Also Autzone had belts in stock so I ran to get one, they asked if I also needed the Power Steering Belt? i bought both to be safe in case I need them since I can always return one. I can't see anything from up top but I didn't realize there was a second belt in there somewhere, anyone know how hard that is to reach (assuming it's under all those pipes on the ecoboost somewhere).

Thanks!

 

[DHG2496]

A little more YouTube digging and I found it. Looks like I do need both belts because I have neither. Looks like a tight space but not too bad.

 

[peterk9]

As far as I know, there is no power steering belt. Ford uses EPAS (Electric Assisted Power Steering). There is no pump.

Electric vs Hydraulic Power Steering - Sherwood Ford

What is the difference between electric and hydraulic power steering? Ford has rolled out in its new models an Electric Power Steering system that replaces the previous Hydraulic Power Steering of its vehicles. The switch features a number of benefits for drivers and we are going to explain them...

www.sherwoodford.ca

Peter

 

[DHG2496]

As far as I know, there is no power steering belt. Ford uses EPAS (Electric Assisted Power Steering). There is no pump.

Electric vs Hydraulic Power Steering - Sherwood Ford

What is the difference between electric and hydraulic power steering? Ford has rolled out in its new models an Electric Power Steering system that replaces the previous Hydraulic Power Steering of its vehicles. The switch features a number of benefits for drivers and we are going to explain them...

www.sherwoodford.ca

Peter

Thanks Peter. I think it’s for the AC compressor not Power Steering. That’s what I get for listening to the guy at Autozone. But it still means you need two belts, so I’m glad I grabbed both while I was there since both appear to be gone.

 

[DHG2496]

Thanks Peter. I think it’s for the AC compressor not Power Steering. That’s what I get for listening to the guy at Autozone. But it still means you need two belts, so I’m glad I grabbed both while I was there since both appear to be gone.

I stand corrected and I think you were right about the electric steering @peterk9 and that pulley not existing. After taking the skid plate off and opening up the fender liner, it's clear I don't have that second pulley/belt, so it's just the one belt, the smaller belt and far left pulley do not exist on my PIU that is shown in that video form the F150 video. Still puzzles me as to why Autozone would have it listed as needing both belts though.

The tensioner was a pain to get a ratchet on and have enough leverage to move it far enough since my 3/8 drive is relatively shot and you don't have enough room to get a 1/2 drive with an adapter in there. With a little maneuvering and swearing at it, I eventually found a good angle while laying on the garage floor to get that tensioner to move up enough and to get the belt lined up to get the serpentine belt on.

For those that need it I bought the Continental Belt Part #4060450.

 

[Joek0617]

I shredded the belt last night while I was out driving and thankfully made it back safely. Are these belts known to go out naturally due to idle ours or is there a typical pulley that tends to destroy these that I should be closely inspecting tonight when I get under the vehicle?

Also Autzone had belts in stock so I ran to get one, they asked if I also needed the Power Steering Belt? i bought both to be safe in case I need them since I can always return one. I can't see anything from up top but I didn't realize there was a second belt in there somewhere, anyone know how hard that is to reach (assuming it's under all those pipes on the ecoboost somewhere).

Thanks!

PIU doesn't have a PS belt

 

[peterk9]

PIU doesn't have a PS belt

None of the 5th gen Explorers do.

 

[khags78]

I shredded the belt last night while I was out driving and thankfully made it back safely. Are these belts known to go out naturally due to idle ours or is there a typical pulley that tends to destroy these that I should be closely inspecting tonight when I get under the vehicle?

Also Autzone had belts in stock so I ran to get one, they asked if I also needed the Power Steering Belt? i bought both to be safe in case I need them since I can always return one. I can't see anything from up top but I didn't realize there was a second belt in there somewhere, anyone know how hard that is to reach (assuming it's under all those pipes on the ecoboost somewhere).

Thanks!

It's important not to get a belt for typical retail Explorers which will self destruct very quickly. Insist on the correct heavy duty belt for the 3.7 or 3.5 PIU engines

 

[xartic]

It's important not to get a belt for typical retail Explorers which will self destruct very quickly. Insist on the correct heavy duty belt for the 3.7 or 3.5 PIU engines

The main thing I encountered is there are 3 different sizes of belts made for the 3 different alternators on the models. If it's a bit too long, you won't notice until it's creating a slapping noise because the tensioner can't put enough tension on the belt anymore. I initially thought it was my belt tensioner but it was the incorrect belt length.

 

[peterk9]

It's important not to get a belt for typical retail Explorers which will self destruct very quickly. Insist on the correct heavy duty belt for the 3.7 or 3.5 PIU engines

Curious about your statement. The maintenance schedule says to replace the belt at 150k miles for both the retail and PIU Explorers.
There are very, very few posts here about having to replace a shredded serpentine belt.

Peter

 

[Volksjager]

Curious about your statement. The maintenance schedule says to replace the belt at 150k miles for both the retail and PIU Explorers.
There are very, very few posts here about having to replace a shredded serpentine belt.

Peter

My 13 had 126k when i replaced it in May. It had cracks everywhere. Same on my 17 eb. It only had 69k and looked really bad as well.

 

[xartic]

My 13 had 126k when i replaced it in May. It had cracks everywhere. Same on my 17 eb. It only had 69k and looked really bad as well.

Do you live somewhere in the midwest/east coast? I'm in CO and I replaced my 2011 Mustang GT's belt around 125K just because I was upgrading some pulleys and said why not. It still looked like it was in new condition. My 2014 Explorer had the belt changed around 94K. No cracks or any visible wear.

 

[peterk9]

Do you live somewhere in the midwest/east coast? I'm in CO and I replaced my 2011 Mustang GT's belt around 125K just because I was upgrading some pulleys and said why not. It still looked like it was in new condition. My 2014 Explorer had the belt changed around 94K. No cracks or any visible wear.

According to his profile in the margin, he is in Indiana.

Peter

 

[Volksjager]

Do you live somewhere in the midwest/east coast? I'm in CO and I replaced my 2011 Mustang GT's belt around 125K just because I was upgrading some pulleys and said why not. It still looked like it was in new condition. My 2014 Explorer had the belt changed around 94K. No cracks or any visible wear.

I do believe both piu’s were from Wisconsin

 

[xartic]

I do believe both piu’s were from Wisconsin

PIU's make a ton more sense. You have probably magnitudes more idling hours that both my cars combined.

 

[DHG2496]

PIU's make a ton more sense. You have probably magnitudes more idling hours that both my cars combined.

I was thinking the same about the PIU vs. regular explorer, I would imagine it's a combination of milage/engine hours as well as climate, mine was from the Michigan State Police and had 5-6 years of service and 98k on the clock when I got it and I live in Michigan and so it continues to see our horrible road salt and winter conditions.

 

[JWJ3]

I stand corrected and I think you were right about the electric steering @peterk9 and that pulley not existing. After taking the skid plate off and opening up the fender liner, it's clear I don't have that second pulley/belt, so it's just the one belt, the smaller belt and far left pulley do not exist on my PIU that is shown in that video form the F150 video. Still puzzles me as to why Autozone would have it listed as needing both belts though.

The tensioner was a pain to get a ratchet on and have enough leverage to move it far enough since my 3/8 drive is relatively shot and you don't have enough room to get a 1/2 drive with an adapter in there. With a little maneuvering and swearing at it, I eventually found a good angle while laying on the garage floor to get that tensioner to move up enough and to get the belt lined up to get the serpentine belt on.

For those that need it I bought the Continental Belt Part #4060450.

My son just did a Serpentine belt on my 2019 FPIU. After trying a 18” Breaker bar on the tensioner (too long) then a standard ratchet (not long enough) he used a Crescent (adjustable wrench) it fit on the outside of where the 3/8 hole is for the ratchet. He said this worked well. Hope this helps.

 

[peterk9]

My son just did a Serpentine belt on my 2019 FPIU. After trying a 18” Breaker bar on the tensioner (too long) then a standard ratchet (not long enough) he used a Crescent (adjustable wrench) it fit on the outside of where the 3/8 hole is for the ratchet. He said this worked well. Hope this helps.

Welcome to the Forum.
Thanks for the tip.

Peter