Question - Loosen your Belt Tensioner?

[32V_SVT]

Hey everyone, I have a 99 Cobra... I'm hearing noise from the Alternator, and am anticipating I'll have to change it out in the near future... Only problem is I can't figure out how to loosen the tensioner on the serpentine belt... I'm used to the old 5.0 setup where you can use a prybar through a tensioner loop to release the tension, and pull off the belt... The set up on the 32 valve modular motors are different... Can anyone offer a sure fire way to accomplish this correctly?

Thanks!

-G

 

[daver01]

don't know if its same on cobra, but just put 3/8 ratchet in square hole & pull towards driver's side on my gt.

 

[32V_SVT]

don't know if its same on cobra, but just put 3/8 ratchet in square hole & pull towards driver's side on my gt.

Right on man!!! When I get home, I'll give it a try!

Thanks!

 

[32V_SVT]

Well it turns out that my tensioner is different from yours... There was no 3/8 square hole in the tensioner to fit a ratchet... However, there was a Torx bolt that holds on the tensioner pulley... So with the use of a Torx Bit on the end of a breaker bar, I managed to put this into the center of the pulley's bolt, and haul the tensioner over towards the drivers side of the engine bay... This released the tension, and I was able to get the belt off!!!

Thanks for the helpful advice!!!

Sincerely,

-G

 

[Isaac-1]

Ford aparently changed the tensioner design on the GT's at some point, I don't know about the Cobra's. IN the case of my '99 GT there is a small cover plate that must be removed to get to the 1/2 inch socket that a wrench goes in. I have seen 00+ models that don't have this plate, I don't know about other '99's though.

Ike

 

[32V_SVT]

Hmmm.... Interesting... The plate you're talking about must be held on by that square 3/8 hole? I looked again at my tensioner... It kinda looks like there may be a plate on it as well... I'll try to pry it off and see what's under there...

-G

 

[MT1083]

I have the square 3/8" hole. Why does Ford do that kind of crap? I usually just put a breaker bar in there and then it will release the tension. Really simple...on mine anyway.