Serpentine belt replacement.

[MyTaurus8AChevy]

What year Duratecs are they? I was basically talking about the serpentine, but the water pump belt looks just as bad

[mwt878991]

Originally Posted by MyTaurus8AChevy

What year Duratecs are they? I was basically talking about the serpentine, but the water pump belt looks just as bad

They are both 2000 Duratecs and I have changed the serpentine belt on both of them and I used a $20.00 serpentine belt tool kit that I bought from Sears.

Takes all of about 5 minutes to change.

It is just along handle with a 3/8" drive mount on it and it came with a couple of crows feet and a three or four sockets.

Mike

[MyTaurus8AChevy]

Originally Posted by mwt878991

It is just along handle with a 3/8" drive mount on it and it came with a couple of crows feet and a three or four sockets.

I've seen those but they won't work, at least not in a 2004 Duratec (I think the 2004-2006 are different). The tool can be no more than 1/4" at its thickest point. The guy at Autozone also told me when I returned the belt that the standard tool wouldn't work either.

[ovp0]

I got a new belt and tried to replace the old one but I don't know where the tensioner is. I tried the lower idler wheel with a 15mm wrench but it dosn't seem to move. Any suggestions? This is on a 2001 SE with the 3l Vulcan.

[MyTaurus8AChevy]

Originally Posted by ovp0

This is on a 2001 SE with the 3l Vulcan.

That car should be cake to install a belt on. Just go to the store that sold you the belt and they'll have a tool that they'll lend you to install it. Takes less than 5 minutes.

[ovp0]

I tried a 15mm wrench but there is no movement. What is this tool like? I thought you just turn the nut on the lower idler clockwise. How much tension should I see?

[MyTaurus8AChevy]

If you remove the nut the pulley will fall off

You need to use a serpentine tool. You can see them at Sears or any automotive store.

[Huney1]

Here's a picture of the belt wrench you can rent at most parts stores and as you can see it has a *real* long handle for good leverage and one of the crows feet should fit the tensioner nut. Slip the crow foot on the nut and haul back on the handle and the belt should loosen right up. If you don't know how to use it ask the guy at the parts store. Shouldn't take five minutes to change it so use it at the store and you'll be sure it works, then give it back and get your rent-deposit money back.
http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...TOOL&ihtoken=1

[shorod]

Originally Posted by ovp0

I tried a 15mm wrench but there is no movement. What is this tool like? I thought you just turn the nut on the lower idler clockwise. How much tension should I see?

As others have mentioned, this should be an easy belt change. Make sure you are attempting to release the belt tension using the spring loaded self tensioner rather than the idler pulley. The idler pulley is not intended to release the belt tension.

Also, if you are on the self tensioner, you may need more leverage than the common combination wrench will let you provide. If you borrow the proper serpentine belt removal tool and you still cannot get the tensioner to budge, then the tensioner may be seized and need to be replaced. That will take longer than 5 minutes to replace.

-Rod

[mwt878991]

The yellow circled 15mm bolt is what you need to get hold of.

The Torx Head is what you would loosen to actually take the belt tensioner off.

If you just can't seem to get on it you can take the degasser tank off and it is a little easier.



This is a 99 Vulcan. Actually it is a FFV but it is the same.




Mike

[Huney1]

Whooiiee! I stopped at the Ford place and OEM belt is $59. and change with tax would be almost $63.00 Heck yes, wrap me up to hot ones with mustard and extra onions to go.

[Huney1]

"The yellow circled 15mm bolt is what you need to get hold of." AMEN.
When you put the crow foot with the long extension handle on it the direction of pull toward the front of the car will cause the tensioner to bend and belt to go slack, but you're pulling the bolt clockwise to the right thus tightening the pulley bolt. "Rightey tightey - lefty loosey." Or something like that. . . .

[MyTaurus8AChevy]

Just an update incase anyone with a 2004 (or gen 4) Taurus with a Duratec engine needs to replace the serpentine belt. We went to AutoZone and bought the Gaterback belt. Don't bother buying a cheap belt unless you enjoy replacing them Now here's the tricky part, you cannot see where you need to insert the serpentine tool at. You'll have to "feel" your way around with the tool. There is no bolt to grab onto like with the Vulcan engines, so don't use any sockets with the tool. There is a 1/2 " square hole where the tool will fit into. Once the tool is in that hole just pull the tool toward the front of the car and the old belt will fall off. Do the same to install the new belt. It looks impossible to do, but it is really easy once you find the hidden square hole at the bottom of the tensioner