Thursday, February 20, 2014
How to Install a 96 Windstar Belt Tensioner
The belt tensioner on the 1996 Ford Windstar model vehicles is a component that is made up of two parts. The belt tensioner is made up of a spring loaded base with a idler pulley connected to the end of the tensioner. The belt travels underneath the idler pulley while the tensioner keeps the belt tight. The tensioner is able to keep the belt tight inside of all of the accessory pulleys while the engine is running. If the tensioner fails, the belt will slip off of the tensioner pulley and out of the other pulleys.
Instructions
- 1
Open the hood and raise it up. Prop the hood up with the lock rod to prevent it from falling.
2Move to the front passenger side of the Windstar and locate the belt tensioner on the front of the motor. Position a breaker bar and a metric socket onto the bolt that connects the idler pulley to the end of the tensioner. Turn the breaker bar toward the backside of the engine compartment (Counter-clockwise) to loosen the tension from the belt. Slip the belt off of the idler pulley and release the tension from the breaker bar.
3Wrap the bungee cord around the belt and hang it to one of the top engine components to prevent it from slipping out of any pulleys.
4Loosen and remove the single bolt in the center of the belt tensioner arm, Pull the tensioner off of the engine block. If the tensioner is stuck, use a flat head screwdriver to pry the tensioner off of the engine block.
5Secure the new belt tensioner to the front of the engine block with the single bolt. Tighten the bolt with the ratchet and socket.
6Turn the new tensioner toward the back side of the engine compartment with the breaker bar and socket. Remove the bungee cord from the belt and slip the belt around the new tensioner pulley. Release the tension from the breaker bar and remove it from the engine compartment.
7Crank up the motor to ensure that the new belt tensioner is working properly. The idler pulley should be moving up and down as the belt is traveling around the pulley. This up and down movement is the tensioner keeping the belt properly tensioned at all times. Shut the engine off.
Thursday, November 28, 2013
1997 Dodge Caravan Belt Tensioner Removal
Removing the belt tensioner on a Dodge Caravan may become necessary if the spring or other components inside the tensioner are worn or failing. The tensioner is not serviceable; replacing a defective unit is the only option. The tensioner keeps the serpentine belt tight. If the tensioner fails, the belt may come off the pulleys, damaging the belt, pulleys or accessories. Replacement tensioners are readily available from the Dodge dealer or larger auto parts stores.
Instructions
- 1
Open the hood, and locate the negative battery cable. Follow it to the end, where it meets the battery. Remove the retaining bolt with a wrench, and remove the bolt and cable from the battery. Set it aside.
2Locate the tensioner on the passengers side of the engine, and place a socket on the bolt in the center of the tensioner pulley. Insert a breaker bar into the socket, and rotate the tensioner counterclockwise, loosening the belt.
3Remove the belt from the tensioner, and lay it aside. Rotate the tensioner back to the home position. Remove the breaker bar and socket from the axis bolt. Locate the bolt at the end of the tensioner arm.
4Place a socket and ratchet on the tensioner retaining bolt, and turn it counterclockwise, loosening the bolt. Remove the bolt and tensioner as a unit, pulling them up and out of the engine compartment.
