tensioner/belt issues

hdrunk5

New Member
Sep 1, 2004
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While under my car yesterday (99 GT) I noticed something strange. It seems my serpentine belt is riding about a third of the way off the belt tensioner pully. What I mean by this is the belt is definatly not centered on the tensioner pully. It is actually about 2/3 on the pully with the remaining third going in the direction of the timing cover. It apparently has been this way for a while due to the spotty rust on the unused portion of the tensioner pulley. Now I attempted to correct the problem by centering the belt on the tensioner pulley but in doing so I could tell the belt was not going to stay centered. Apparently (by using the crank pully as my gauge) the tensioner pulley dose not line up with the rest of the pulleys. It is too far forward from the timing cover. After centering the belt it was obvious the pulleys do not line up. I bought the car as the third owner, but with only 41k on the car, I belive the tensioner is the original. Reguardless, the tensioner seems to be installed correctly. I have never had any pulley off the car so I have not caused the problem.
Now I think I'm going to buy a new tensioner and pulley combo to see if that solves my problem. Its about that time anyway now that 40k has arrived. I will be going OEM and not buying any junk for the replacement part. I just thought I would post this to see if anyone else has delt with this and what course of action you took to correct the problem. Thanks.
 
hdrunk5 said:
While under my car yesterday (99 GT) I noticed something strange. It seems my serpentine belt is riding about a third of the way off the belt tensioner pully. What I mean by this is the belt is definatly not centered on the tensioner pully. It is actually about 2/3 on the pully with the remaining third going in the direction of the timing cover. It apparently has been this way for a while due to the spotty rust on the unused portion of the tensioner pulley. Now I attempted to correct the problem by centering the belt on the tensioner pulley but in doing so I could tell the belt was not going to stay centered. Apparently (by using the crank pully as my gauge) the tensioner pulley dose not line up with the rest of the pulleys. It is too far forward from the timing cover. After centering the belt it was obvious the pulleys do not line up. I bought the car as the third owner, but with only 41k on the car, I belive the tensioner is the original. Reguardless, the tensioner seems to be installed correctly. I have never had any pulley off the car so I have not caused the problem.
Now I think I'm going to buy a new tensioner and pulley combo to see if that solves my problem. Its about that time anyway now that 40k has arrived. I will be going OEM and not buying any junk for the replacement part. I just thought I would post this to see if anyone else has delt with this and what course of action you took to correct the problem. Thanks.
B SURE TO GET ONE WITH A SQUARE HOLE IN IT. I HAD MINE REPLACED AND
IT HAS A ROUND HOLE IN IT. THAT MAKES IT A SOB TO RELEASE PRESSURE ON THE BELTS.
 
I have a '99 also. FYI, you do not have to replace the whole tensioner. The tensioner pulley is exactly the same as the idler pulley. I have 100k miles on the stock tensioner and I just replaced the pulley on it a while back...along with the idler pulley. Just FYI in case you want to save a little dough...that tensioner is not cheap.

I really don't see how your belt would be that much off if the tensioner and pulley are tight and the belt runs good everywhere else. Mine runs toward the back edge of the pulley, but I wouldn't say its a third off. Have to take a look.
 
careful when adjusting it, you can crack your timing cover if you use to much torque, I would take the belt off and take the tensioner right off, check to see if it is installed right and if anything is broken in there, its not that big of a deal, but you don't want your belt slipping off, if that doesn't work take it to a pro
 
Same problem a while back but tensioner gave out while driving= lost alternator nut, broken belt, tore some wires, bent the plate that holds it, and scratched the inside of my cowl hood. Changed both tensioner, pulley, and plate. Everything from ford. Not that cheap. I believe it was $100 for everything. Be careful.
 
1996 up to 1999 Mustangs(and other Ford cars) came equiped wth an aluminum belt tensioner. Ford had so many problems wth this they went to a steel tensioner. the problem wth the aluminum tensioner is over a period of time the aluminum tensioner arm will "bow" or bend outwards causing all kinds of belt related issues. the fix is to buy the improvied tensioner and belt kit from a dealer. part # XR3Z-6B209-DB we sell them for @$115.00 also get the belt guide(@$7.00) that bolts over the tensioner for add insurance.