96 windstar serpentine belt came off...why??

[mikesduster]

on my way to work today,i noticed my BATTERY light came on, then the TEMP light came on and relised that the belt came off...i limped it home and sure enough,it came off...
but WHY???...i have a OUTTER BLOWN HEADGASKET and i was checking the radiator today and some water/anit-freeze got on the belt but i didnt think it really mattered.
i did notice a different noise the other night coming home from the engine...
can ya help??

thanks,mike

[jsimmoms]

Originally Posted by mikesduster

on my way to work today,i noticed my BATTERY light came on, then the TEMP light came on and relised that the belt came off...i limped it home and sure enough,it came off...
but WHY???...i have a OUTTER BLOWN HEADGASKET and i was checking the radiator today and some water/anit-freeze got on the belt but i didnt think it really mattered.
i did notice a different noise the other night coming home from the engine...
can ya help??

thanks,mike

Check both the belt tensioner pulley and the idler pulley ( located between the power steering pump and the alternator). Mine came off onThanksgiving day and it was the bearings in the idler pulley. Hope this helps.

[mikesduster]

Originally Posted by jsimmoms

Check both the belt tensioner pulley and the idler pulley ( located between the power steering pump and the alternator). Mine came off onThanksgiving day and it was the bearings in the idler pulley. Hope this helps.

THANKS!!!!...seems like there ok....my P/S pulley moves in and out a little,could that be it or just the water on the belt and it being a little older??

[jsimmoms]

Originally Posted by mikesduster

THANKS!!!!...seems like there ok....my P/S pulley moves in and out a little,could that be it or just the water on the belt and it being a little older??

Mine has a little play also, so I beleive its ok. Check your other pulleys and if the belt is pretty old it wont hurt to replace it anyway. Hope this helps.

[PumpItUp]

Originally Posted by mikesduster

on my way to work today,i noticed my BATTERY light came on, then the TEMP light came on and relised that the belt came off...i limped it home and sure enough,it came off...
but WHY???...i have a OUTTER BLOWN HEADGASKET and i was checking the radiator today and some water/anit-freeze got on the belt but i didnt think it really mattered.
i did notice a different noise the other night coming home from the engine...
can ya help??

thanks,mike

Wouldn't hurt to check the alignment when you look along the left side of the engine check the drivebelt and visually make certain that it looks straight and not out of alignment.Specifically on the belt tensioner. I have a 96' that the tensioner load spring inside of it went and needed to be replaced! I could see the deflection in the belt and tried then to make it move and it was definetly fried! to replace the drive belt tensioner on a 3.0l simply remove the the retaining bolt from the centreof the tensioner body and a 3.8 l has three retaining bolts. good luck