What does the belt tensioner on a Ford Taurus do?
The Ford Taurus belt tensioner serves to hold the serpentine drive belt in place. The tensioner, which consists of an arm and a pulley, presses down on the serpentine belt to keep it in constant contact with the other pulleys in the serpentine system.
What causes a serpentine belt to get stuck?
The main reason, in most cases, will be a stuck pulley from one of the devices (alternator, AC compressor, power steering pump etc) or a tensioner. A stuck pulley is mostly caused by a worn out bearing. The belt slides over a motionless pulley causing extensive friction, heat and the recognizable sound.
How often should a serpentine belt be replaced?
Have the belt replaced whenever a related component is replaced (a broken belt is often associated with a damaged or seized pulley on one of the engine accessories). And consider regular inspection and replacement of the serpentine belt as a part of routine vehicle maintenance every 30k miles.
Can a broken AC compressor cause the serpentine belt to snap?
If the AC clutch bearing seizes while the AC compressor is not operating, the belt can snap then as well. Replacing the serpentine belt tensioner and idler pulley at the same time as the belt is always a good idea. They wear out too!
The main reason, in most cases, will be a stuck pulley from one of the devices (alternator, AC compressor, power steering pump etc) or a tensioner. A stuck pulley is mostly caused by a worn out bearing. The belt slides over a motionless pulley causing extensive friction, heat and the recognizable sound.
Have the belt replaced whenever a related component is replaced (a broken belt is often associated with a damaged or seized pulley on one of the engine accessories). And consider regular inspection and replacement of the serpentine belt as a part of routine vehicle maintenance every 30k miles.
If the AC clutch bearing seizes while the AC compressor is not operating, the belt can snap then as well. Replacing the serpentine belt tensioner and idler pulley at the same time as the belt is always a good idea. They wear out too!
What happens when you apply dressing to a serpentine belt?
But, when applied to a serpentine belt, the dressing will be spread into the pulley grooves. Once there, it will attract and hold dirt and grit. The dirt will start the belt slipping again and all of the dirt and belt dressing will have to be cleaned out of the pulley grooves before a new belt is installed.
How do you change the tension on a serpentine belt?
The spring in the tension arm is quite stiff, so it might require you to use a small piece of pipe on your wrench (a “cheater”) or use a double wrench to gain enough leverage. This will cause the spring-loaded tensioner arm to rotate and release the tension on the belt.
Can a pulley be replaced on a serpentine belt?
If the tensioner spring is damaged it can be replaced using the same steps, but instead of removing the tensioner pulley bolt, I’ll have to remove the T47 Torx screw holding the entire arm assembly. This will add about $30 to the overall cost, but that only makes for greater savings.
What kind of wrench do I need to change pulleys on Ford Taurus?
Once you have the parts you’re about ready to get started, but be sure to have the tools. On the Ford Taurus, both pulleys are held on by 15mm bolts. Therefore at a minimum, you need a 15mm wrench to do the job.
The Ford Taurus belt tensioner serves to hold the serpentine drive belt in place. The tensioner, which consists of an arm and a pulley, presses down on the serpentine belt to keep it in constant contact with the other pulleys in the serpentine system.
The spring in the tension arm is quite stiff, so it might require you to use a small piece of pipe on your wrench (a “cheater”) or use a double wrench to gain enough leverage. This will cause the spring-loaded tensioner arm to rotate and release the tension on the belt.
If the tensioner spring is damaged it can be replaced using the same steps, but instead of removing the tensioner pulley bolt, I’ll have to remove the T47 Torx screw holding the entire arm assembly. This will add about $30 to the overall cost, but that only makes for greater savings.
Once you have the parts you’re about ready to get started, but be sure to have the tools. On the Ford Taurus, both pulleys are held on by 15mm bolts. Therefore at a minimum, you need a 15mm wrench to do the job.