xmicros

Replaced my serpentine belt on my Ford Ranger 2.3 L and discovered that the tensioner does not spring back. It's just kind of tight and has to be manually moved to apply tension to the belt. I tried shooting some lubricant into it and working it back & forth to loosen it up, but was unsuccessful. I'm guessing I need to replace the tensioner? Is it ok to just move it to apply moderate pressure and drive it like that? It has probably been stuck this way for quite some time. The belt had some small cracks on the underside, but it was not too bad and never gave me a problem.
I also noticed that the timing belt is pretty well aged and needs to be replaced. Is there anywhere on-line where I can find good instructions on replacing the timing belt? I have a Haynes manual but it is not very explicit.
Thanks.

WesternPaRanger

Replace the tensioner and it's not that hard at all to replace the timing belt and they are sooooo cheap. I'm sure there are detailed instructions out there somewhere and the belts are around $20 at the most. We used to race 2.3's and always carried a couple spares (tensioners and tb's)

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if you can't fix it with duct tape and a sawzall don't bother...

xmicros

I replaced the automatic tensioner and also decided to replace the other pulley (Idler pulley) because it was also showing signs of wear. BUT, the idler pulley did not come with a new bolt, so I had to use the bolt from the old pulley. Well, there was a retaining clip holding the old bolt onto the pulley, and when I removed the clip a washer also came off. I wasn't paying attention and now I am not sure which side of the pulley that washer goes on, and which way it faces. It is NOT a flat washer. It has a sort of cone or cup shape to it. If anyone has any info on how this goes back together i would greatly appreciate it! I'm sure it will make a difference if the pully is not correctly lined up with everything else.
Thanks,
Mike

Bill

The washer of that type is called a bellevelle washer. It is used to provide spring tension the the device being sucured by the bolt. More likely than not it goes between the bolt head and pulley. Check alignment for variances. Go to Helm.com for the service manual on the belt replacement. Can rent it online if desired.

xmicros

I tried all different ways to install that washer and I believe it does go between the bolt head & the pulley, but not the way a bellville washer would go. It installs with the cone shape facing out toward the bolt head, and is meant to act mainly as a dirt/dust cover for the bearing, and not to apply pressure as a bellville washer would.
Any other way I tried to install it caused the pully to bind.
If anyone can confirm this I'd sure like to know.

Bill

You went the way it told you to. Very good, sorry for the belated response, was at a birthday party in Los Angeles.

bkahn800

How hard is it to replace the serpentine belt?

\Ben

bobkyle2

ben.... its very easy to do... just pull the tensioner back with a half inch drive breaker bard... and pull the belt off... and throw a new one on

The hard part is getting the new belt back on in the right order...lol ive been puzzeld sometimes...... luckily there should be a diagram under the hood on how to put it back on

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2008 f150

I dont know much about rangers...But i will try

Hooligan

Thread moved to the new 2.3 engine tech section

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JacksSmith

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