96 ford taurus lx tensioner testing/removal?

[swizzle]

I recently purchased a belt for my Ford Taurus LX V6 3.0 dual cam. It was way to big, I went back and got the only other belt that is made for this engine and it was considerably shorter, yet still to big. I got it on without loosening up the tensioner. I tried to get a star wrench and ratchet on the tensioner and it took some wrestling to get it on. Everything is so tight in this engine that its hard to work on. I pulled the ratchet towards me (clockwise). CLICK CLICK CLICK. The tensioner wheel itself spins free like it should but it doesn't move up or down or back and forth. I turned the tensioner back the other way (counter clockwise) and again with the clicking but still no movement. Is it time to change the tensioner? Right now I have a belt on that is even smaller then what the vehicle calls for and its to big as well. I might be able to tighten the alternator up but isn't it the job of the tensioner to keep steady pressure on the belt? I don't want to have it set to tight or not tight enough and have to change the belt every week or two. How do you test the tensioner and how do you safely and properly remove it safely with a minimum of cursing. Swizzle

[way2old]

Be sure to double check the routing on the belt. I have been in the business almost 40 years and still get the belts mis-routed occasionally. To release the tensioner, there should be a hole near the pully to insert a tool to release the tension. If not, the bolt on the pully will release the tensioner. If memory serves, the tool needs to be pulled to the front of car to remove belt.

[swizzle]

I double checked with the diagram on the hood but I will check again to be sure. The part where the star wrench goes is a part of the arm behind the tensioner. It has an arrow with the word "lift" on it pointing in a clockwise direction. All I get is a clicking noise and no movement. I'm thinking its time to change the tensioner. I just want to make sure I do it right because I heard it can be dangerous if done improperly. All though not lethal I like my fingers and don't want to smack them any more then necessary. I bought a book on ford taurus's, years '96 to 2005, but no mention of the tensioner at all. Anyone have any experience on renoving the tensioner? Swizzle

[swizzle]

I took a much better look at the tensioner and the belt routing and I found the square hole on the tensioner. It does work and I saved $60 by not buying a new one. The belt was also routed wrong and it was a surprize to me to see that it really was routed wrong even after I double checked it. Thanx for the advice. Swizzle

[way2old]

Cool. Glad you got it.