Ford Explorer Belt Squeal - Belt Tensioner

2013 Ford Explorer Limited 3.5L V6 4x4
Belt was squealing when the roads were wet. Changed belts 3 times, found TSB (tech service bulletin) on the tensioner pulley possibly causing it. Change it out keep fingers crossed.

[@nl3cortese]

Super dad helping the kid. Those wheels don't have to roll, just push dirt. On a 3.5, too much in way up top, had to take splash shield off and do everything from below. Upper front bolt awful, but electrical taped 1/4" 8mm socket to bolt to install with 1/4" ratchet, worked well. Don't know why 1/4" ratchet was too short to get that bolt out, maybe just not being able to see it, but helper from top unscrewed it once loosened. A 3/8 socket will bind against frame of car....nightmare, need a pick to flip direction...twice!

[@roddraym]

Thanks for taking the time to video record and share this information. It was very insightful. Happy Holidays 2021!

[@al-banks298]

Thank you my pulley is shaking and now I'm going in 😊

[@jeffbrown3963]

Bad time for a hand cramp! Answered my question whether it could be done without pulling the wheel and fender liner off. Thanks!

[@thirdgearpull]

mine would do the same.. squeal on wet days and a few times have left me stranded because the alternator didnt maintain the charge and ran on just battery...

[@thebear2283]

Do you have a video with the noise it was making? My 2014 has a noise I don’t know if is the tensioner or the ac compressor pulley that’s making the noise

[@millennialmommaker]

Best way to tell is to turn AC off, listen, then turn it on and give it gas. If it makes the noise or gets worse with the AC on, it’s the could be either or both. If it sounds the same with the AC on or off, it’s just the tensioner.

[@justinmatlock2655]

What did you end up having done to yours? I have a clicking issue when the AC is on. Replaced the compressor and the belt tensioner and still had the same sound.

[@aymanbalout6592]

Thanks

[@winstonsmith3685]

Same thing happened to my wife’s car. 105k. AC compressor seized, took the belt out. Fixed that. Then my tensioner was making noise. Not squealing, more like growling at low RPM. I guess they only engineer things to last for 100k.

[@SHOKona-wp4vr]

Did you notice the original tensioner moving slightly while the motor was running sir?

[@CountyLineGarage]

I did notice any movement

[@DogmanRules567]

Did this repair fix the issue you were having with your serpentine belt? I have a 2013 Explorer that squeaks while drive mostly when its wet out.

[@CountyLineGarage]

Sure did been over a year now I believe.

[@TrilhaMundo]

My friend I just replaced today the tensioner and belt, but I have one doubt, is this belt have a specific point to put back in the pulley like old cars or not? Normally all the serpentine belts have a small signal that shows a specific point of the car that you have to out back in the same position, but I only remember that after finish hahaha.. thank you for the video brother!

[@bigd9190]

My belt just came off my 97 Ford explorer and I was in the middle of nowhere I had no choice but to drive to the nearest town luckily there was a Walmart right on the outskirts of town so I stopped there I got out and looked and my belt just looked like it came off didn't look like it had any damage but when I spun the fan in the front of the pullys it made a noise... I hope that the water pump or idler pulley didn't go bad I felt one of the pullys on the bottom would not move and it looked like it was gunked up with something

[@bigd9190]

And it was not the crank pulley it was a smaller one

[@CountyLineGarage]

Completely different engine than this one.

[@NG-tz8wo]

My 2011 with 152k on it does the same thing only when it's wet. Going to do this tomorrow and see if it fixes the issue.

[@CountyLineGarage]

Been over a year on this one and hasn’t squealed since

[@NG-tz8wo]

@@CountyLineGarage no luck with this for me. Squealing again.

[@CountyLineGarage]

@@NG-tz8wo sorry to hear. I’m assuming you installed a brand new belt when you replaced the tensioner? I will say the first belt squealing problem I had with this car was the AC compressor but it only squealed for about a day until it completely locked up and shredded the belt, had to have the car towed.

[@NG-tz8wo]

@@CountyLineGarage I didn’t but I’m going to give that a shot next. The belt was only 2 months old when I replaced tensioner.

[@rhurtadorh32]

Have you had any water pump issues at 152k miles?

[@Chris-gw4zp]

The water pump was changed on mine prior to me buying it and it squeaks like crazy. I ordered a new belt but I’m not sure if that’ll fix it

[@samuelmaldonado757]

Thanks for the video , can You tell me the number of the belt ? Please ?

[@wkualum3194]

Great info! Question for you....i get some noise when i turn the AC on. I am thinking it could be this tensioner or the AC bearings in the condensor pully. Thoughts?

[@CountyLineGarage]

What type of noise? The AC compressor seized up and had to be replaced around 30k miles on this one.

[@jackfleming3897]

Does anything need to be adjusted on the new belt tensioner, or is it ready to go right after it is installed? Also, this looks like you used an AC Delco belt tensioner. Is that a pretty reliable product?

[@CountyLineGarage]

It's an automatic tensioner so no adjustments to be made. I used the GATES 38485 and have not had an issue since installation almost 1 year now.

[@jackfleming3897]

@@CountyLineGarage ok that's perfect! My belt is old and my tensioner is locked up completely so I can't release the belt at all. I actually ordered the Gates one as well

[@stephenmcfarland3078]

What would cause not a squealing noise from the same pulley i believe like a knocking noise when the ac is turned on in the same looking vehicle?

[@CountyLineGarage]

I can’t imagine a knocking noise coming from the tensioner but the AC compressor is below it and you may hear a clicking noise come from that when the ac is on. Also I might note on this car when the ac is on the idle has been surging for some reason I haven’t looked into yet. Use caution because the timing set is behind the cover behind the tensioner, which unusual noise coming from that could be bad news.

[@stephenmcfarland3078]

Awesome thanks for the advice and info

[@theringer13]

I have seen this done in other videos but they drop and engine mount and removing the wheel well cover. Is that necessary ? Seems like over kill?

[@CountyLineGarage]

I didn’t have to do any of that…

[@theringer13]

@@CountyLineGarage thank you going to give it a try

[@RobertoGonzalez-wz1xt]

Thanks thats fine

[@cristian50184]

any torque spec on the bolt for the tensioner? I can't find any online .

[@CountyLineGarage]

Best I can find is 97 in-lb... google “2013 ford 3.5l belt tensioner bolt torque” there are loads of results, use your best judgement on exactly what you’re working on.