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Pulley misaligned?


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mkw037
Novice

Feb 27, 2012, 8:27 PM

Post #1 of 5 (8853 views)
Pulley misaligned? Sign In

I have a 99 taurus and I noticed the belt looked like it jumped a track because it wasn't sitting perfectly in the middle of the pulley it was wanting to come up the side of the pulley. I was hoping it was just time for a new belt so I got one.. threw it on and the belt just ended up riding the pulley side again. I figured I'd take it for a little spin and see if it would just work out the kink and go back to normal but instead the belt blew off. So now my assumption is that there is a pulley misaligned. Do you guys agree or have any other suggestions as to what it may be? How do you go about "checking" them individually to find the bad one even?


nickwarner
Veteran / Moderator
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Feb 27, 2012, 8:36 PM

Post #2 of 5 (8844 views)
Re: Pulley misaligned? Sign In

serpentine belts don't like to pop off unless something is amiss, which it clearly is. Look for play in the individual parts with the belt off and with the belt on especially look at the tensioner pulley. Belts and tensioners wear at about the same rate and when you replace them its good insurance to replace the pair along with any idler pulleys present. If you turn an idler or tensioner pulley and feel anything other than smooth its garbage. If this is a DOHC motor welcome to our world, its a major pain to get at.


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Feb 28, 2012, 4:18 AM

Post #3 of 5 (8810 views)
Re: Pulley misaligned? Sign In


Quote
I figured I'd take it for a little spin and see if it would just work out the kink


And you're really serious...................

When my car runs out of gas, I try driving it into submission.................. The gas hasn't appeared that way as yet though.



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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



mkw037
Novice

Mar 3, 2012, 2:20 PM

Post #4 of 5 (8749 views)
Re: Pulley misaligned? Sign In


In Reply To
serpentine belts don't like to pop off unless something is amiss, which it clearly is. Look for play in the individual parts with the belt off and with the belt on especially look at the tensioner pulley. Belts and tensioners wear at about the same rate and when you replace them its good insurance to replace the pair along with any idler pulleys present. If you turn an idler or tensioner pulley and feel anything other than smooth its garbage. If this is a DOHC motor welcome to our world, its a major pain to get at.

Without the belt I was checking each pulley and the tensioner pulley spins around ok but it seems like there is more resistance than should be.. definitely doesn't spin as smooth as the idler pulley. Is that normal or should they both spin as the same rate? Also It's the water pump pulley that I've noticed the belt riding up.. but that pulley itsself seems to be pretty smooth.


Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Mar 3, 2012, 2:51 PM

Post #5 of 5 (8742 views)
Re: Pulley misaligned? Sign In

You never answered the question if this engine was a DOHC or OHV 3.0L. Look at the 8th digit in your VIN. If is an "S" you have the DOHC. "U" is the OHV.

Look at the belt tensioner. Is it cocked out when the belt is installed? If the tensioner pulley doesn't feel right or the tensioner is cocked and coming apart, you should replace it. Rock the water pump pulley and check for a loose bearing. Inspect the powersteering pump pulley. Be sure the front of the power steering pump shaft is flush with the front of the pulley.

You can see in this pic of a tensioner coming apart. See how the tensioner is cocking causing the belt to mis aligned?



end of shaft and pulley should be flush:







Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.

(This post was edited by Discretesignals on Mar 3, 2012, 2:53 PM)






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