Shredding Belts........

[DTNODYA]

I've had a problem with shredding belts on my 98GT for a while now .. I can't figure out why. Can you all throw some ideas out there for me to troubleshoot? I replaced the tensioner pulleys a while back because they were squealing (thought that may be the issue) but apparently not. I guess it could be the tensioner but how would I check that??? It's not rubbing anywhere that I can see ... I put a gatorbelt on a few months ago and I've been driving my car for the past few weeks. I popped the hood tonight to check the oil and what not and noticed that the gatorbelt has freakin' metal showing on two of the belt grooves. There is belt dust everywhere .. this one is going to break soon and instead of buying belts, I'd like to figure out why my car hates belts!

Thx in advance for any ideas.

 

[whyask]

your pulleys could be off (by off I mean not installed correctly)

 

[04YELLOWGT]

Id say the the pullys are off also. My belt did this also when I put the 8 Rib kit on, I looked at my blower and it was crooked just a hair and the blower pulley was wearing the belt down.

 

[TweekedGT]

When you changed the tensioner did you go aftermarket/jobber part or did you buy it from Ford? I bought an aftermarket piece thinking I'd save money and it threw/chewed belts like crazy. The tensioner finally got hung up on one of the bolts that holds it to the timing cover which is the only way I found out the tensioner was the problem. After about five belts I bought the Ford OEM and haven't thrown a belt since.

 

[DTNODYA]

When you changed the tensioner did you go aftermarket/jobber part or did you buy it from Ford? I bought an aftermarket piece thinking I'd save money and it threw/chewed belts like crazy. The tensioner finally got hung up on one of the bolts that holds it to the timing cover which is the only way I found out the tensioner was the problem. After about five belts I bought the Ford OEM and haven't thrown a belt since.

I didn't change the tensioner, only the two pulleys. You think the tensioner could be bad/bent or something??

Id say the the pullys are off also. My belt did this also when I put the 8 Rib kit on, I looked at my blower and it was crooked just a hair and the blower pulley was wearing the belt down.

How should I go about checking to see if pullys are off?? Visually?

 

[RandyStinchcomb]

I didn't change the tensioner, only the two pulleys. You think the tensioner could be bad/bent or something??



How should I go about checking to see if pullys are off?? Visually?

is the tensioner on your car still the aluminum one or has it been upgraded to the black steel tensioner?..........1999 on back to @1996's had issues wth the aluminum armed tensioner bending or bowing outwards and causing ALL kinds of belt issues.......Ford had several TSB's out to correct this and one was the steel tensioner, a belt guide that bolted over the tensioner and flanged water pump and p/s pump pullies.....

the revised tensioner is part # XR3Z-6B209-DB and comes wth a new belt...we have plenty in stock if you need one, price is @$139.00

 

[DTNODYA]

Randy, the tensioner I have is the aluminum one. Should I take it off and see if it's bent or something before I order a new one from ya? I've never taken it off, is there anything special involved? Thx

 

[RandyStinchcomb]

nothing special in removing it, just 3 bolts....now you can take a straightedge and lay it along the length of the arm and sea if it's bent

 

[DTNODYA]

I took the tensioner off and it doesn't look bent. It looks sort of like the belt is riding to the side of the pulleys (slightly) and I don't really know how. It's starting to piss me off though because I've been looking at pulleys for like 45mins trying to figure out how to troubleshoot. Any advise? I can take pics of whatever might help.. ??

 

[RandyStinchcomb]

if the belt marks on the pulley are off to one side, it's a good bet the tensioner arm is either bent or the bearings in the pulleys are shot....if it were me, I'd just go get the steel tensioner and be done wth it......

 

[DTNODYA]

if the belt marks on the pulley are off to one side, it's a good bet the tensioner arm is either bent or the bearings in the pulleys are shot....if it were me, I'd just go get the steel tensioner and be done wth it......

OK, I hear ya ... let me ask you this ... The power steering pulley looks funny on one side of it, like if you spin it, there is a side on the grooves (groove nearest the block) where the belt rides that is 'bent' out so to speak. In other words, if you are looking at the groove nearest the block, it looks normal but as you turn the pulley that groove flanges out and is shiny on a section of the pulley. I guess what I'm getting at is that since the belt has been off to that side of the pulleys and the power steering pulley (and the alternator pulley for that matter) have 'learned' the groove of the belt being off, would it be best to replace the two pulleys also? Can you just buy an alternator pulley?


One final question .. are the OEM idler and tensioner (same part right?) pulleys better than the ones from auto parts stores? I know what your answer will probably be but I ask because when I replaced those pulleys back when, I just got the autozone ones and the ones in my Haynes and Ford service CD look different. I was just wondering if there is a quality difference because I'll just replace them with OEM ones if they are better. Hope that makes sense.

I appreciate your help.

 

[RandyStinchcomb]

there are srveral makers of pullies and "yes" some are better than the others...so if your in doubt, just get a new oem Ford idler, there only @$14.00....now the P/S pulley is a seperate part but a "bastard" to change as it has tobe pressed off and on, which would require some speciacl tools, skills or removal of the pump and taken to a shop to-do....but that sometimes opens-up another can-o-worms, P/S fluid leakes after you re-install it

 

[DTNODYA]

Are you 'banghead' because of my question or because the power steering pump sucks? Regardless, the grooves on the pulley are bent on one side. Can't you just use a little puller deal (circular one that grips, turn bolt, pops off)? I don't mind sending you the $ for a new tensioner and some pulleys but I don't want to buy a tensioner if it's not necessary, ya know? Would a pic of it help?? It's a weird ass issue and I just wanna figure out what exactly is causing it. Thx for the patience and advice. You know more about this crap than I do ...

 

[RandyStinchcomb]

was "headbanging" because the job........... it is a Royal PITA, imo............. and almost always causes other problems...if you think you can get a puller in ther wthout removing the pump, fine but most people I have delt wth over the years, when they disturb that pump, they allmost always end up wth a p/s fluid leak and end-up buying a replacement pump and or hoses....take my work for it, just replace the tensioner wth the "improved" steel one and get a new idler....tell 'ya what, I'll make you a deal...I'll do the steel tensioner kit wth a new belt and a new idler pulley for $142.00 + s&h