belt tensioner

[mustanggt]

I have a 4.6 engine, and I'm trying to change the belt. I have done this on plenty of other mustangs and it was easy. This one, I can't get the tensioner to move to save my life! Has anyone else had a problem, if so, what did you do? Any tips or tricks? Thanks.

 

[PSKSAM2]

I have a 4.6 engine, and I'm trying to change the belt. I have done this on plenty of other mustangs and it was easy. This one, I can't get the tensioner to move to save my life! Has anyone else had a problem, if so, what did you do? Any tips or tricks? Thanks.

A really big breaker bar? Stupider question, are you pushing the right direction?

-Jim

 

[mustanggt]

I know I'm suppose to rotate it away from the belt. But I was getting so frustrated I tried every direction. I was making the entire car move, but not the tensioner.

 

[scheister]

Just put the 3/8" ratchet end on the tip of the belt tensioner and move it i towards the center of the motor. Need pictures?

 

[Dan_Soprano]

I know I'm suppose to rotate it away from the belt. But I was getting so frustrated I tried every direction. I was making the entire car move, but not the tensioner.

not good brother........

 

['96&'01Stang]

I know I'm suppose to rotate it away from the belt. But I was getting so frustrated I tried every direction. I was making the entire car move, but not the tensioner.

Try the other way

 

[SmithAtlanta]

Deifinitely towards the drivers side. Was just out doing the same thing...

 

[mustanggt]

Ya, if you have some pictures, that would be great. I feel like a dumba**... I tell everyone how easy it is, and show them, but no one has a 4.6. I can't even get my own belt off.... grr....

 

[Isaac-1]

On my 99GT there are 2 or 3 small bolts and a cover plate that must be removed to move the tensioner (the cover plate partly covers the hole where the socket goes. Newer GT's that I have seen don't have this cover, I am not sure exactly when the change occured or what year yours is. Also they changed the belt routing on newer models.

Ike

 

[meajas12]

The tensioner might be sezied and therefore unable to move. You might need to replace the entire tensioner.

 

[mustanggt]

If it has seized, that might explain what's going on. I can't find anything really bad about the belt (normal cracking, no gaps or verticle cracks), but it's almost time to change it anyhow. After the car has warmed up, it sounds like a teakettle (which is really rather embarassing). But the sound is definitely coming from the belt.

 

[BILL_2001STANGT]

Ok, I was having the same problem last week...... First on my 2001 Stang when you put your 3/8 wrench in the socket hole of your tensioner pulley it should move from right to left (driver side). This should not have that much tension. Once you get the belt off I found that the idler pulleys (2) both had a broken stand offs under them allowing the pulleys to get loose. On one of them I had to put new threads in. The other one I just tightened up and the noise went away. I am still going to take it back to the dealer and ask why this happened and see if there is a recall or so something. This should not have happened.

 

[mustanggt]

Sounds like I have something a little more serious than a belt. I appreciate all the help.

 

[DC-GT]

Keep us posted please! These things coming to a conclusion are valuable to us newbs!

Bo

 

[BILL_2001STANGT]

Serious maybe, maybe not, yours could be just a bad pulley or tensioner. less than $30.00 at Autozone. p.s. I stopped by Ford today and they want me to bring my car back after Xmas. I'll keep you posted.

 

[mustanggt]

I just meant more involved than a simple belt... I checked out Partsamerica, and the picture they are showing for a 97GT doesn't quite look like my tensioner.
Hmmm... ??
I will get to the bottom of this!
Please keep me posted on what you find out, and I will do the same.
Thanks again!

 

[USMC_MuSTaNG]

i just got finished changing my belt. Could not do the socket trick mentioned above as the supercharger bracket was in the way. I used the back side of a hammer and pushed(from the passenger side) the tensioner foward(toward the drivers side) worked like a charm.

 

[BILL_2001STANGT]

Here is a pic of the front of my Stang. I hope it helps. p.s. My tensioner is removed by taking the (1) center bolt out.

 

[mustanggt]

Thanks for the pic... definitely not the tensioner that I have. Did you remove the bolt from the automatic tensioner, or the idler pulley? It looks like maybe the idler... ok, there's an obvious thought, remove the idler.

 

[BILL_2001STANGT]

I removed both the idler (top) and the spring tensioner (middle) and the other idler to the left of the spring tensioner. All three are only held on by one bolt each.