Changing belts 90 TC

[kapemhoop]

I started up the TC yesturday, and the belt was making a noise, thought it would maybe go away, drove it down the road a peice, and it wasn't stopping, I could smell smoke, it was coming thru the AC. As I pulled into the driveway, tons of smoke was going out thru the back, like a NASCAR driver was doing a burnout.

The engine was still running, and AC was still blowing out cold air.

But the belt was broke. How do I change the belt, I can't figure out what needs to be moved/removed.

And do I have other problems then just the belt? Did one of the pulleys lock up?

[Towncar]

Originally Posted by kapemhoop

The engine was still running, and AC was still blowing out cold air.

But the belt was broke. How do I change the belt, I can't figure out what needs to be moved/removed.

And do I have other problems then just the belt? Did one of the pulleys lock up?

Does the '90 have the single serpentine belt ?


If so, and the AC was blowing cold, Engine ran fine, no overheating -- I think the Belt Tensioner Bearing froze up.

[junk yard doggie]

The 90 model most likely has the 5.0 in it, Ford switched over to the 4.6 in 91. I think it does have the serpentine belt. But if the ac was still blowing cold it must have more than one belt, hmm. One idler pulley could have broken off, and tossed the belt, this happed to me on a 85 Mustang GT. There is usually a square hole on the idler pulley big enough for a 1/2 in breaker bar to fit in to. Prying on that is where you get your slack in the belt. It should be easy to get a diagram of the belt routing on the 5.0. That info. should be on a sticker under the hood, or on the core support some where. I would check all your acc. pulleys to make sure they are not frose up.

Mike

[kapemhoop]

Ok...well I got the belt changed, after finding the tensioner. Started up and still making the noise. One of the pulleys locked up.

And yes it is the 2 belt engine. The 5.0 engine is what I have.

The pulley that locked up is the one directly under the A/C compressor pulley. Which that would explain why the large amount of smoke. Because I had the engine started no more that 5 seconds and a poof of smoke shot up. now I believe it's the air pump...not sure. How hard a fix is it? If its just the pulley and not the whole unit that locked up....should be something I could do right?

[Towncar]

Originally Posted by kapemhoop

Ok...now I believe it's the air pump...not sure. How hard a fix is it? If its just the pulley and not the whole unit that locked up....should be something I could do right?

If it's the Air Pump pulley that's 'locked up', it's not just the pulley -- the whole damn pump fried. You'll have to replace the pump and the belt.

1st, remove the burning belt.
2nd, try to spin the Air Pump by hand, if it's frozen or difficult to spin, it's shot.

As Mike said, at the same time make sure the AC pully spins freely too.

EDIT: I missed the part where you mentioned you have a new belt. If it's still good you can keep it in there.

[junk yard doggie]

Yes Hopefully the new belt is still good. Those darn things are not cheep.
Steve is right about the air pump, the whole thing is probally shot and will need replacing. You should be able to find one at a local salvage yard since it's such a common engine. I 've got several pumps for the 4.6 but none for the 5.0.

Mike