RedRider
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- Aug 7, 2007
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Well, I have one more post to help solve problems, after that I am going to a begging mo fo! I really need to title this... "WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT CHANGING A FRIGGIN BELT WOULD BE THIS DIFFICULT".
I tried to change the serpentine belt on my truck with 70k miles. I bought a standard belt at Autozone. The problem that happened is that after I changed the belt, my truck would routinely squeal loud until it caught up with the engine rpm. After that everything ran fine. On humid / rainy days, the squealing would last much longer.
I was really annoying my neighbors with this squealing noise so early in the morning, so I bought a 'high end' Gatorback belt. Well... the same thing happened.
What is a person to do? If you go by the folks at an autoparts store you need a new tensioner! WRONG!
I actually bought a new tensioner but, on the way home I was thinking I need to stop at Ford and compare belt sizes! I did and guess what, both belts bought from Autozone were about 1 to 2 inches longer than the belt that Ford sold. The serpentine belt at Ford cost $40.
I went home and put the Ford OEM serpentine belt on, and sure enough the squealing went away... forever! I never needed to replace the tensioner, the problem was the belt size!
If anyone has this same problem please post specifics about your truck. I have a 2002 4.0L SOHC 4wd. Back in the day, when I went to Autozone.com and this model was in the MINORITY now it is the majority, so I wonder if they were pulling a part number from a different model truck??
I STRONGLY suggest measuring up your old serpentine belt with the replacement.
I hope this info helps someone in the future.
Cheers
-Brian
I tried to change the serpentine belt on my truck with 70k miles. I bought a standard belt at Autozone. The problem that happened is that after I changed the belt, my truck would routinely squeal loud until it caught up with the engine rpm. After that everything ran fine. On humid / rainy days, the squealing would last much longer.
I was really annoying my neighbors with this squealing noise so early in the morning, so I bought a 'high end' Gatorback belt. Well... the same thing happened.
What is a person to do? If you go by the folks at an autoparts store you need a new tensioner! WRONG!
I actually bought a new tensioner but, on the way home I was thinking I need to stop at Ford and compare belt sizes! I did and guess what, both belts bought from Autozone were about 1 to 2 inches longer than the belt that Ford sold. The serpentine belt at Ford cost $40.
I went home and put the Ford OEM serpentine belt on, and sure enough the squealing went away... forever! I never needed to replace the tensioner, the problem was the belt size!
If anyone has this same problem please post specifics about your truck. I have a 2002 4.0L SOHC 4wd. Back in the day, when I went to Autozone.com and this model was in the MINORITY now it is the majority, so I wonder if they were pulling a part number from a different model truck??
I STRONGLY suggest measuring up your old serpentine belt with the replacement.
I hope this info helps someone in the future.
Cheers
-Brian