2011 Ford Fiesta stretch to fit belt install without specialty tools !!!

[@NeyJ]

I don’t know how to say thank you enough!! I’m so glad I saw this before i attempted to change it. it took me longer to take the drive belt cover off than it did put the actual belt on!

[@charliecadaver666]

You just did by knowing how much it helped you. Please hit the Like button and subscribe. I do a variety of vids as I work on all makes and models. Thx and have a safe one!

[@DDSigo]

You saved my life with this video dude. The kit they send with the belt normally is pathetic cheap metal. If you let it slip even once the piece is useless. I worked for hours trying to make it work and you just allowed me to go back outside and save my workday tomorrow. THANK YOU! Took me 15 minutes to get this on using your method although I used two vice grips to ensure it wouldn't slip off.

[@charliecadaver666]

DDSigo glad it did. i guess I'm a pretty handy tech with a brain ;)

[@charliecadaver666]

Whoa.. 50k views!!! I'm so glad I could have helped out so many people!

[@Sthompson4447]

This video was beyond helpful. I was able to install the stretch fit belt without the special tool. Thank you

[@randallatha36]

I have a 2016 and working on it has been soul crushing

[@charliecadaver666]

I don't doubt that at all

[@glennryan4889]

Cheers pal.... excellent idea.. subbed and liked. Already struggled with this job once, thought it was on right but it pushed the belt into the alternator and shredded it, not on right somewhere. Will be using your method tomorrow.

[@charliecadaver666]

Glad to have helped. I spent hours running around town for the "tool" that no one had in-stock. So took a better look at it and said, "f×ck that tool! I got this" 😆

[@glennryan4889]

@@charliecadaver666 Got it done, the bottom bolt on the alternator was stripped, so letting the alternator move and hence the belt. Had to re-do the thread, used two pairs of vice grips to put the belt on and hey presto! ... I used a piece of thin card to protect the belt from the jaws of the vice grips.... thanks again.

[@popfluster]

Tried out this method, worked like a charm.

[@stephengraham7112]

Thanks this video saved me so much frustration trying to fit this belt when ford couldnt supply the proper tool.

[@charliecadaver666]

Stephen Graham or just do something that has been working for decades.... SPRING TENSIONER!!!

[@charliecadaver666]

Stephen Graham - and you're very welcome!! knew this would help lots of ppl

[@bigron26048]

This guy is so right on the money...great video.

[@charliecadaver666]

Thanks. Glad I was able to help out so many people!

[@spencermoore2468]

Here's another way of fitting the water pump stretch belt on a Ford Fiesta or Focus without using specialist tools. First remove 3 of the 4 water pump bolts. Then loosen the last bolt just enough so the pulley can be twisted off the water pump central locator . Fit the new stretch belt onto all the pulleys leaving the water pump pulley til last. If the belt seems too small to go onto the water pump pulley turn the pulley so it pivot on the remaining bolt until the belt goes on (if at this point the belt will still not go onto the water pump pulley check it's fitted correctly onto the other pulleys or check the belt is the correct size). With the belt fitted onto all the pulleys turn the water pump pulley until the position of the remaining bolt is at 1 o'clock. Now first make sure you have a 10mm spanner within reaching distance, then using a pry bar or long screw driver lever the water pump pulley using the crank pulley as a rest until it twists back onto the water pump central locator now tighten the one water pump pulley bolt. If the pulley's on correctly the 3 removed bolts will screw back in easily. Hope this helps. It did for me and was a lot less stressful than even refitting the belt with the correct tools.

[@wesmalo]

Top notch advice! Make sure you keep the -pulley- belt under the water pump [pulley] @1:47 (close to the engine) as Charlie Cadaver said and this will be a quick job.

[@charliecadaver666]

Thank you. Correction... Belt under water pump pulley. First 2 tries.. I hadn't paid attention via driveway ramps vs car lift visually didn't see everything first attempt. That's why I made this vid, for everyone else to jump in and complete this with ease.

[@wesmalo]

@@charliecadaver666 Ahem. Belt under.

[@duaneulman9915]

Thank you. Did not have small vice grip but two large ones worked.

[@BiteTheBulletUK]

That worked a charm. Still took me 5 attempts to get it on with out it coming off alternator pulley haha

[@charliecadaver666]

I'm glad my instructional video is able to help you. I'm actually very pleased how many people have given positive feedback vs a handful of idiots that can't follow simple instructions

[@ryannza]

Excellent tip using a vice. I didn't the first time and ripped the new belt on the alternator pulley. Also because I wasn't paying attention to the water pump section slipping.

[@brettarnold2817]

I got the belt on but the vice grips ended up ripping a section of the belt and chewing up the metal a bit. Damnit. I dont feel comfortable that it will last so am gonna go grab another belt and try again.

[@charliecadaver666]

Hey, just small vise grips. And only has to be lighty clamped onto pulley

[@gwernette5971]

I must be dense. How do you move the belt if the vise-grip is pinching it to the pulley?

[@charliecadaver666]

Lol. The pulley spins with belt. Its like installing a tire. You'll see once you do so. Make sure grips don't fall off tho. You'll still be spinning crank via crank bolt during the process so make sure both hands are free. Spinning crank spins belt and pulley. Grips might have to be re clamped after spinning pulley half a turn. Juat follow my directions on the video and you will be goldened like the thousands of others who have succeeded after watching it also. Lmk if you have anymore questions. I'll try to repsond as quick as possible.

[@eddasilva912]

Mate you're a star. Manage to do a belt in minutes, took me longer to get the car on stands than actually fitting the belt.

[@ericzanovitch775]

Well done sir! One little improvement: a small C clamp works better than vice grips.

[@dalebassett9474]

Top guy managed to get the belt on within 5 mins thanks for the help pal

[@lannyherns]

You save the day man got the serpentine belt on no problem with the vice grips just have to watch it as you crank it

[@randallatha36]

Would a small c clamp work maybe

[@Frequency1981]

Thanks bro. You dont know how much help that was.👌👌👌👌

[@charliecadaver666]

You know, when I made this video my intent was to help many people who got sucked in my situation regardless of skill set. It seems like I have helped thousands fresh I am very glad that's a couple minutes out of my time has been able to achieve that. So you're very welcome as I'm very pleased to be so helpful to the thousands of viewers of this video. It's just funny how for every thousand people that seems there's one idiot who's kind of quite follow directions to do this as I really believe this is a very simple, simple verbal instruction. Good luck in your future endeavors

[@justinholmes5614]

My hero ! I’ve got to change the alternator on my girlfriend’s fiesta, I’ll do it your way.

[@charliecadaver666]

Thx. Glad I was of help

[@metair3759]

Thanks aaaaLot for postin this Video! I had gotten the belt WiTh thee attachment from the dealer and that was Garbage! Thing did absolutely noThing for me! Messed with that thing for hoUrs and yoUr method only took 5mins. A simple bElt fix shouldn’t have to take so long. Thanks again for the post. SaviNg lives

[@charliecadaver666]

Thank you. Glad I could help! And please don't forget to hit the 👍 cheers!

[@gavinboudreau6354]

You are a golden god, my girl thinks im the man because of you

[@charliecadaver666]

Glad to hear! I save ppl tons of $$$ on side jobs bc I figure out short cuts and charge less than book time. Once took a 12-13hr book time job and turned it into just 4.5hrs. I still charged them 8hrs, but still saved them at my rate $300.

[@betocano1987]

Im so lucky watching this video. Thank you sir for sharing your wisdom.

[@charliecadaver666]

beto teclas my pleasure. I'm a master tech and always glad to help others. I started wrenching myself by digging in and asking questions. About 18 years later, I enjoy teaching others a trick about this field

[@donlachance4298]

took 30 seconds to install thank you for the video

[@charliecadaver666]

Don LaChance very welcome. I'm so glad i was able to help others in a stupid situation Ford put me and others that do side jobs or DIY'ers. honestly, my shop doesn't even have this stupid tool you need. we just treat them like a tire and spoon it on

[@metalman2332]

This may be the best video I've ever seen on KZbin. I can't express how much this saved my ass while I was trying to figure out how to fix the belt on my girlfriend's Fiesta. Fuck Ford for making their vehicles impossible to work on, but thank people like you for making it easier on the rest of us. #lifesaver

[@charliecadaver666]

metalman2332 ur welcome. I'm a pretty handy tech n i had to figure it out on the fly bc neighbor needed her car n old belt i cut off

[@micahfigueroa664]

Best video on this

[@charliecadaver666]

Thank you! I knew if it saved me, it would help out lots of others. As the method I had to use with what tools i had on-hand; no one on here demonstrated.

[@natemorris535]

Thanks so much man, helped my friend do his with your method and it went on pretty quick. Great help!!!

[@joelturpin3741]

You absolute genius

[@charliecadaver666]

Thank you!

[@edsmith2503]

It works. But puts alot of stress on water pump bearing. And damages belt

[@dirtyj07]

You sir are a God among men, thank you...

[@charliecadaver666]

dirtyj07 thank you sir! I figured ppl were going to love it since there was nothing worth sh*t on here to help me with what I had or parts stores had to offer

[@jamesneylon27]

Thanks man! But dam that belt is still hard as hell to get on! A lot of f bombs dropped on this one.

[@alexkapinga2024]

Is there any way possible to do this without taking the wheel off? My security wheel nut key is broke but I need to do this job ASAP. Great video BTW!

[@charliecadaver666]

Can you bang an impact socket on wheel key to take it off?

[@charliecadaver666]

Bc most likely, you will not have elblow room to get the new belt on

[@williamivery1809]

I love guys like you thank you so much 👍

[@charliecadaver666]

Glad you were able to do so!

[@joelblea4992]

Worked like a champ! Thanks.

[@charliecadaver666]

Joel Blea glad I could help

[@n-8skrilla363]

Thank you so much. Awesome. I don’t understand why car company’s have to be different I do not see how this system could be any better than how it has been for the last 40 or 50 years. Maybe they are taking notes from Saab or Volvo. P.o.s

[@charliecadaver666]

Yes. The fact is less moving parts is less parasitic drag. Engine spins with less resistance and that means itty bitty more power and mpg's. Like putting an under drive pulley on without putting an U.D. pulley on if you will. But its not worth the extra effort period! It's like with hydraulic brakes... It's flawless system unless tampered with. So that's why its still the same after all these decades.

[@hberry8844]

'a shoe horn fucked a horseshoe' hahah ahhhhh

[@colinwhitehurst6751]

I got the special tool and the sucker keeps popping off! Cheap as hell! So frustrating! I'm going to try your method tonight. So you just clipped the vice grip to the pulley to hold the belt down, and then rotated that middle bolt with out moving the vice grip again util the belt was all the way on?

[@charliecadaver666]

Hope my video ended up helping you.

[@Misterjollygreen]

Thanks, it worked! Never buying a ford again...

[@charliecadaver666]

Awesome! Glad to hear about both it working and not buying a ford again lol. As a master tech... I have never nor will ever own a ford. Unless someone gave my a true GT or a real Shelby or even an Eleanor. But Eleanor will have an LSX transplant before tagged and seen driving on the street in 😆

[@Bob-nu3xe]

Made my own tool (5 mins) belt change 3 mins easy ' tip- once you grip the belt on the crank pully use a piece of 1" x 1" wood to ease the belt onto the water pump pully at you turn the crank same with the alternator turn the crank use the wood to work the belt into the correct position

[@AlanCooney]

Bob, that’s a good tip!!! I did similar before reading your comment - using a 1” diameter metal pole wedged between outer edge of water pulley and inner wing!

[@kasungayantha5758]

By the way, i can see some oil on a side of the sump as same as my fiesta right now. Have you ever figured out where the oil leak was?

[@charliecadaver666]

No sorry. This was not my car. Customer referred this customer to me for side work from a fb housing developement community page. I ended up moving from the neighborhood and lost touch with this person. But I would clean everything off real good. Wipe down. And start from the valve covers down. That's how any oil leaks get solved. Clean and start from top to bottom unless obvious

[@stevellljones]

I done a fiesta and focus in 2 consecutive days and both were leaking from the camshaft centre

[@stevellljones]

Sensor

[@stihltheman]

worked for me! might have taken 5 minutes, but I took my time!

[@charliecadaver666]

Up to 5 retards that couldn't install the belt, so they dislike my video that is extremely helpful as we all know. Some ppl just should never touch tools lol

[@BWSTT]

Thanks for this- what a fucked up setup! Was gonna try and pry bar it over (swapping the engine as i hydrolocked the fiance’s one) but your method looks spot on, cheers

[@AlanCooney]

Great video and thanks for sharing this useful tip!

[@johnq478]

Thank you it worked and to who ever invented such a stupid design should be sacked

[@MrAvant123]

I fitted one today what a hassle, why why why did the engineers delete the tensioner on these engines ! Ford must have just recruited some design engineers from Alfa Romeo !

[@charliecadaver666]

Who knows. But I've come across stretch-to-fit belts even on late model gm Silverado. Not sure if was a gmt900 or newer. Went on easy as I knew how to walk it on. Was a few years back now. When I was the head tech at an 35 year established mom & pops joint. Owner being a master tech also never seen anything like it before either. He scratched his head as to " WHY?" as well.

[@tossmonkey1]

Your a legend thanks man!

[@charliecadaver666]

owen k Thank you. I know I am ;D but hey, been doing this about 18 years now. Should seen what I have done in junkyards to get what I want when not having the correct tool. I don't think I can drag my 73in long toolbox thru the dirt in a junkyard. I might be legendary, but not close to hulk haha. I'm sure tool companies and ford hates techs like me. However, they are not the only ones with stretch to fit belts. I've ran across them in GMT900 platform. Couple more I cannot remember off hand. If ever stuck on anything, please don't hesitate to write

[@rodapresa6813]

Fantastic!! Thanks guy!!

[@charliecadaver666]

Thank you

[@ericdilley6635]

I just replaced my brake pads on my 2011 and yep, you guessed it, Ford decided to use shoes for the back of the Fiestas, that sucked ass.

[@charliecadaver666]

3 dislikes must be from retards with no mechanical skills ;)

[@CalebsCars]

Did this and it walked itself right off the alternator

[@aboodaltheeb1]

Thank you I'm really save my money

[@charliecadaver666]

Up to 22 idiots out of 37k views. 22 very 'Special Ed's' 😆

[@LW-el6vu]

As soon as I get this f ing belt on, I'm selling this piece of sh*t Fiesta. I hate Ford. I'll never buy a Ford again. Thanks for the excellent video.

[@charliecadaver666]

L W you're very very welcome!!!

[@silvercs3946]

The easiest way its to remove te alternator screws and replace it and thight the screws again in just 5 minutes

[@charliecadaver666]

Silver Cs that's a good way also, but this took me just 15 seconds

[@RBDET25]

I tried this way but once the belt is on I just can't lift the alternator back up to the bolt hole to bolt it in? Any advice?

[@alan12341344]

Done many without special tools so easy

[@Bobman84]

Not just Ford. Subaru, Mazda and heaps of others do it now. It is so stupid!

[@charliecadaver666]

Bobman84 agreed sir. just another way to try to make ppl come to the dealership for repairs... failed. this was my neighbor's car... like i said, I'd never buy a ford for stupid shit like this lol

[@bstceltics4]

Mazda is ford

[@charliecadaver666]

@@bstceltics4 kind of sort of.. Ford never owned complete Mazda.. Like 1/3rd of Mazda. Now they have zero shares. So... They might borrow parts etc... They are not. I wouldn't own either one. Maybe like a 93 rx7 with an LSX sitting under the hood 😉

[@Perryhartley]

You're a fucking genius

[@JoesAutoElectric]

You hate Ford, yet most companies out there use this sort of belt now. No offense, but that's a fact. However, I think it is a terrible idea all around.

[@charliecadaver666]

It just gave me a good excuse to blame ford. I love fords lol esp every Friday when i get my check from fixing them all week 😄 But yes, a lot of manufacturers are using this method. Did a Chevy 1500 a while ago ac compressor or alt and had a stretch to felt set up... However, I slipped that sucker on in a few seconds! Easy as π

[@TheWuzyy]

if you buy a special tool for this you hate money

[@charliecadaver666]

Yes... Not needed if you have a mechanical brain

[@bigyellow100]

Just paid 160 for a new belt and install fml

[@charliecadaver666]

Next time then. Don't forget my vid and make sure to hit the like button pls n thank you

[@alan12341344]

No special tools

[@charliecadaver666]

Yep. I don't think of my vise grips as a "special tool". Also came across years ago for the 1st time when doing a water pump on a 2014+ GM truck with Gen5 engine that had stretch-to-fit serp belt. But was much easier to slide that belt on. Having much more room between motor and rad was a plus!

[@glennbonnell4241]

You didn’t even show what you did only talked about it 👎👎👎👎👎👎

[@charliecadaver666]

Not my fault you're an idiot who can't understand worded instructions. I've got plenty of people who have to thank me. Maybe you should not by Ford or have professionals work on your car. How you going to read something off Identifix or Mitchell 1 with worded directions to diagnose and find a bad connection or wire in a bus system? Or bad pcm? Since you can't follow like 4 or 5 simple steps! I have only done 1 stretched to fit belt since this video on a Silverado. Yet, years later I can still come back and undedstand everything i said.