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Serpentine Belt question

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Old Sep 11, 2010 | 08:41 PM
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Default Serpentine Belt question

When replacing the main serpentine belt, how tight should it be? I put the new one on (from Autozone) and it doesn't seem to fit as tight as I imagined. I took the old one that had a fracture in it and compared to the autozone one, and they seem to be the exact same size? Any help would be awesome.

Note: I was feeling around on the water pump pulley and it seems to have slipped behind the actual pulley and is now loose. Not sure if this has an effect on the main serpentine belt.
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Old Sep 11, 2010 | 08:56 PM
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Originally Posted by JAC5KSON
When replacing the main serpentine belt, how tight should it be?
Look at the belt tensioner. There are three raised areas on the casting that are kind of like triangles. Two of the triangles are on one side and a single one on the other side. As long as the one falls between the other two the belt is tensioned properly.

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Old Sep 11, 2010 | 09:47 PM
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There is only one way to route it....it is as tight as the tensioner pulls it...if it is on correctly it should be tight
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Old Sep 11, 2010 | 09:52 PM
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If the tensioner is too far over to the passenger side it will be too loose and could slip under heavy throttle. I believe the stock belt is 80 inches and 6 ribs. Get that and you should be good. There is only one serp belt and there is an AC belt. If a belt slipped behind the water pump pulley, that is your only serpentine belt. Don't drive it like that.
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Old Sep 11, 2010 | 10:57 PM
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The damper can and will walk off the HUB. If your damper walked off the hub,, its very possible thats what happened. Is your hub very close to the rack or timing chain cover????? If it is,,,,, its BAD and needs to be replaced!!!!!! The rubber isomeric damper material separated and is no longer bonded to the damper/hub.



BC

Last edited by Bill Curlee; Sep 11, 2010 at 10:59 PM.
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Old Sep 12, 2010 | 04:39 PM
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Figured it out, thanks everyone!

Last edited by JAC5KSON; Sep 12, 2010 at 05:00 PM.
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Old Sep 12, 2010 | 09:28 PM
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Originally Posted by JAC5KSON
When replacing the main serpentine belt, how tight should it be? I put the new one on (from Autozone) and it doesn't seem to fit as tight as I imagined. I took the old one that had a fracture in it and compared to the autozone one, and they seem to be the exact same size? Any help would be awesome.

Note: I was feeling around on the water pump pulley and it seems to have slipped behind the actual pulley and is now loose. Not sure if this has an effect on the main serpentine belt.
Mine is incredibly tight. It takes all I have to get it on???
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Old Sep 13, 2010 | 03:55 PM
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Problem again.

I replaced the belt yesterday, everything was tight and fitting very well. I actually drove around for about 45 minutes to make sure everything was running smothly. Everything was running fine, but this morning I went to start the car and the belt had slipped off agian? I called the dealership and they said to maybe a pulley had locked up? Any recommendations?
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Old Sep 13, 2010 | 03:59 PM
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Originally Posted by JAC5KSON
Problem again.

I replaced the belt yesterday, everything was tight and fitting very well. I actually drove around for about 45 minutes to make sure everything was running smothly. Everything was running fine, but this morning I went to start the car and the belt had slipped off agian? I called the dealership and they said to maybe a pulley had locked up? Any recommendations?
Check all the idler pulleys.
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Old Sep 13, 2010 | 04:03 PM
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Originally Posted by JAC5KSON
Problem again.

I replaced the belt yesterday, everything was tight and fitting very well. I actually drove around for about 45 minutes to make sure everything was running smothly. Everything was running fine, but this morning I went to start the car and the belt had slipped off agian? I called the dealership and they said to maybe a pulley had locked up? Any recommendations?
remove the belt, and make sure the accessories and pulleys spin freely. If they do, put the belt back on, and watch the balancer for wobble.
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Old Sep 13, 2010 | 07:47 PM
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WOBBLW or misalignment If its too far back or too far forward it will throw the belt. Look at the outer ring in this picture. Theres a rubber material between the ring and hub. Look at yours and see if its moved forward or rearward.

BC

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