Belt Adjustment: Notes

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CAUTION: Incorrect drive belt installation will cause excessive drive belt wear and may cause the drive belt to come off the drive pulleys.

Inspect belt for fraying. If fraying has occurred, ensure belt and tensioner are aligned properly. See Fig 1. If tensioner has reached its limit of travel, belt is excessively stretched and replacement of belt is required. See Figure-Figure . If excessive noise is noticed from tensioner or idler, check for possible bearing failure. With the engine running, visually observe the grooves in the pulleys (not the pulley flanges or the pulley forward faces) for excessive wobble. Install new components as necessary. Check all accessories, mounting brackets, and the drive belt tensioner for any interference that would prevent the components from mounting correctly. Correct any interference condition and recheck the drive belt tracking. Tighten all accessories, mounting brackets, and the drive belt tensioner retaining hardware to specification. Recheck the drive belt tracking.

Belt tension adjustment is not required on vehicles with automatic belt tensioners. DO NOT apply belt dressing or any other additive to belt(s). Ensure belts are properly installed. See Figure-Figure . See BELT TENSION ADJUSTMENT SPECIFICATIONS .

Fig 1: Aligning Serpentine Belt

Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.