Spark Wire Change to Pulley Flying Out

[X94_4x4]

Hey everyone, the other day I was swapping the spark plug wires on my 94 XLT, and i got the wiring wrong the first time, but later got a diagram from a thread and fixed my mistake. Two days later, which is today, i go out to jump it because my battery ran down for some reason during my swap and i got it started but it wasn't soundin too good. I shut it off and tried to start it a number of times again, and then when i get it started i hear a loud noise, and what i believe was a pulley flew out of my engine, and i have a belt hanging loose and feel like i'm pretty screwed. I'm curious to know if any of you can diagnose what my situation might be, i would appreciate any help so much. If you need any more information feel free to put it in the post and i will respond as quickly as possible. Feel free to email me any feedback as well at f00tballplyr31@aol.com.

Thanks again

 

[410Fortune]

hahaha sorry to laugh but its so typical of my luck it sounds like something that would happen to me.

OKay it sounds like your tensioner pulley let loose.
ZThe tensioner pulley is for the serpentine belt, and jsut like its called it is a spring loaded pulley that keeps tension on the belt.
When the bearing gets old the pulley falls off, not uncommon at all.


You need to look at the front of your engine and see if you can locate where the pulley used to mount, right next to the air conditioner compressor there should be an aluminum colored arm, and you will likely be able to spot where the pulley used to mount.

Most auto parts stores will have this part and they are not to expensive just for the pulley. If the whole tensioner let go then its a little more $$$ but under $100.

You can also try the SEARCH feature on this board for tons and tons more info, possibly pics too......

 

[X94_4x4]

Could me hooking up my spark plug wires in the incorrect locations have been a cause for the pulley deciding to fly out. The reason I ask this is that i hadn't really been having any problems, i'm getting ready to sell my explorer and had 5 new spark plug wires sitting around from when i had to replace one and decided to replace them. Then when i got them incorrect, and thought i had fixed my mistake, i wound up with a dead battery, and then my truck would start when jumped one time only. After that when i tried to start it, it sounded like it was trying pretty hard but just wouldn't start up. I'm curious about the wires being the problem because when i replace my pulley, i dont want to still have the same problem. Again i appreciate any help that i receive.

 

[410Fortune]

two totally un-related things, unless you used the pulley to support your weight while digging around to change hte plug wires......

Do you have the pulley that flew off?
Is it about 4" in diameter and about 1.25" deep, silver in color where the belt rides and black everywhere else???

 

[X94_4x4]

No, actually it is all black, about 2.5" in diameter and about as deep as you said. It has grooves where the belt touches, and it is connected to another silver piece. I found a hole where it looks like it would connect, however i couldn't find a nut or bolt anywhere.

 

[410Fortune]

This is a 94 OHV 4.0L correct???
Not good.

Grooved pulley = either from waterpump, alternator, A/C compressor, or power steering pump
Yikes!

 

[X94_4x4]

Gotta love the Yikes! haha Well, yes that is my vehicle, um...i am gonna go outside and try to locate where this thing is missing from, however, on the back i do know it says "rotate to load" as well as "F47E".

 

[X94_4x4]

I found a spring laying down underneath the fan, and i found that the pulley came from underneath the alternator. I've done a small search for a diagram to find out what this is, but i couldn't find ne thing. What i'm curious to know besides which pulley this is would be what one of these might cost or what it might cost to have someone replace it for me. Thanks again.

 

[Cali' Explorer]

I don't have a 4.0, but that sounds to me like the tensioner pulley. Was there a bar or something attached to it, or was it just the pulley itself?

I don't know what it costs to have fixed, but you probably need a knew one. Ford ones should be in the neighborhood of $70 while cheaper ones can be had at any regular auto parts store. Again, it SOUNDS like its the tensioner to me, but I don't have the 4.0

As for having it replaced by someone else... it should be a fairly straight forward job, but if you don't want to do it, it shouldn't cost you more than $250 total.

 

[410Fortune]

If the pulley has the ribbed surface it is not the tensioner.

ribbed = front of the belt, flat pulley = back of the belt.

You can fix it yourself for $15-50
Or you can pay to have it towed and repaired.....

 

[NOTAJP]

I'm thinking alternator pulley.

A/C pulley is grooved but about 4" in dia.
P/S pulley is grooved and about 5" in dia with a clutch in the center

Water pump pulley and tensioner pulleys are smooth.

OK, my wife's laughing at me for walking outside when it's 28* and dense fog to look at pulleys with a flashlight.

 

[rapdes]

Its definately the tensioner pulley I just replaced my serpentine belt on my 94 explorer. The tensioner pulley is directly below the alernator and is a ribbed pulley thats about 2.5" in diameter. That would also explain why you found a coil spring. Probably the whole tensioner arm failed. I beleive you can get a replacement one from autozone for around $60-$70.
The other pulley without the ribs that everyone else is talking about is the idler pulley this one has no grooves at all and sits directly in front of the thermostat it is also a bit bigger maybe around 3.5" in diameter.

 

[StickmanC]

rapdes is absolutely 100% correct. I just replaced my idler pulley on mine and the tensioner pulley on mine is grooved also. The belt runs over the alternator and rides on the backside of the belt for the idler but the inside of the belt for the tensioner. I believe Autozone had the whole tensioner assembly with pulley for 30 something dollars.