 |
 | Home | Contact Us | FAQ | Search & Site Map | Link to Us |
 | Sign In | Join | Other 45 Sites in Network |
Car Forum / Ford / Ford Explorer / July 200698 Explorer Belt Tensioner Replacement
I am thinking about replacing/checking by Tensioner because I am hearing a droning noise when the truck is idling. Seems to be more prominent in very hot weather. I understand this is relatively easy to do. I took a look under the hood, and there's a belt diagram that easily identifies the belt tensioner and indicates to use a 3/8" socket wrench. However, it looks like there is not a lot of room to work. It is about an inch or inch and a half away from the fan. If I do get it out easily enough, is the new one hard to get in? Do I basically make the belt about as tight as it is now? Can I somehow test the tensioner after I remove it, perhaps seeing if it spins smoothly? This is one of the easiest things to replace on the explorer. Disconnect your battery to make sure the fan doesn't come on. Use the 3/8" socket wrench to relieve the tension on the belt and then remove the belt from the tensioner. The tensioner has two or three bolts holding it on. Look for wobble and noise in the tensioner after you remove it. Replacement should be less than $50. Your noise might be related to your IACV, so check that too. >I am thinking about replacing/checking by Tensioner because I am > hearing a droning noise when the truck is idling. Seems to be more [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > about as tight as it is now? Can I somehow test the tensioner after I > remove it, perhaps seeing if it spins smoothly? > This is one of the easiest things to replace on the explorer. Disconnect > your battery to make sure the fan doesn't come on. Use the 3/8" socket [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > be less than $50. > Your noise might be related to your IACV, so check that too. Thanks for the tip. I did some searching on that and some people indicated a bad IACV could cause the engine to die occasionally when you try to start it. I have exprienced this occasionally, so I will look at this too. I found a nice website showing how to clean it. Maybe I should try to clean it first, the article said the part costs $132 at AutoZone. Here is the article: http://www.explorer4x4.com/iac.htm Rog: Two hints (1) don't try to clean the IAC, unless you are stuck out someplace and experience a starting problem (2) Forget what the article said about the price. The part will run you less than $35.00 at almost any Parts Store (except Auto Zone). I have replaced two in the last couple of months for myself and a friend, both in that price range. (O'Rielly's). FWIW Bill >> This is one of the easiest things to replace on the explorer. Disconnect >> your battery to make sure the fan doesn't come on. Use the 3/8" socket [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > Here is the article: > http://www.explorer4x4.com/iac.htm How would I know if I should replace the tensioner? I have a '95 XLT, and it's running fine and has about 116,000 miles on it. I changed the serpentine belt at about 80,000 miles. Do I need to change the tensioner? Any suggesstions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. >I am thinking about replacing/checking by Tensioner because I am > hearing a droning noise when the truck is idling. Seems to be more [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > about as tight as it is now? Can I somehow test the tensioner after I > remove it, perhaps seeing if it spins smoothly? if it's not making any abnormal noise, it's ok and that goes for just about everything that's not a ware item, like hoses, brake shoes, belt, engine oil, tires etc >How would I know if I should replace the tensioner? I have a '95 XLT, and >it's running fine and has about 116,000 miles on it. I changed the [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] >> about as tight as it is now? Can I somehow test the tensioner after I >> remove it, perhaps seeing if it spins smoothly? > if it's not making any abnormal noise, it's ok and that goes for just about > everything that's not a ware item, like hoses, brake shoes, belt, engine oil, [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > >> about as tight as it is now? Can I somehow test the tensioner after I > >> remove it, perhaps seeing if it spins smoothly? For me the indicator of when to replace my tensioner is when I watched it bouncing on the highway behind me. Damn thing dropped right out as I was on a big ol bridge. Limped the car into a parking lot and walked 5 miles in 100 degree heat to get a new one. good times! =) It was a cheap part, if you have some reason to suspect it at least buy it and keep it with you, save yourself the walk! > I am thinking about replacing/checking by Tensioner because I am > hearing a droning noise when the truck is idling. Seems to be more [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > about as tight as it is now? Can I somehow test the tensioner after I > remove it, perhaps seeing if it spins smoothly? Well, I replaced the IACV (idle air control valve). It was $42 from AutoZone and it took about 2 minutes to swap out. Right on top of the engine and easy to get to. This may have resolved my problems. I am not 100% sure because I did not have the noise all the time. If not, I'll replace my tensioner, which looks like it would be just a little more work. Thanks for the tips guys, and I'll keep you posted. > > I am thinking about replacing/checking by Tensioner because I am > > hearing a droning noise when the truck is idling. Seems to be more [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > replace my tensioner, which looks like it would be just a little more > work. Thanks for the tips guys, and I'll keep you posted. Check that the seating of the tensioner is flat and not crooked. Mine was crooked. Listen for clunks when the belt changes speeds (like when you accelerate). These tipped me off, I got a new tensioner on my Ranger just in time apparently.
|
Reply to this Message |
 Sign In
 Join
 My Latest Posts My Monitored Threads My Blog My Photo Gallery My Profile My Homepage Start New Thread Enable EMail Alerts Rate this Thread
|
©2008 Advenet LLC Privacy Policy - Terms of Use
This website includes both content owned or controlled by Advenet as well as content owned or controlled by third parties.