How do you change the serpentine belt on Taurus - Sable?

Answer 1

I couldn't change my 2000 Taurus 3 Liter DOHC engine serpentine belt without raising the front of the car on car ramps and/or jack stands. Otherwise, it was too difficult to thread the new belt around the lower engine pulley. Then you use a breaker bar (or similar) with a 3/8 inch socket drive plugged into the belt tensioner located directly in front of the alternator. Before releasing the tension with the breaker bar, make sure you know how the belt threads around each of the pulleys, and remove the old belt. I had to use various methods to hold the new belt in place on each pulley as I threaded it through all the pulleys, leaving the upper most pulley last to provide enough slack in the belt. Finally, re-tension the belt tensioner with the breaker bar and slip the belt over the upper most pulley.

There is a square hole for a 1/2 socket or a bolt head on the tensioner pulley to connect to and pull the pulley away from the belt to enable removing the belt from the closest pulley you can with your free hand.

This can be insane and very time consuming. There were 3 types of engines made for this year. You need to know which one. All will take a 15mm offset box wrench. All types will need to be turn clockwise?

Put a wrench on the (spring loaded) tensioner/idler pulley and take out the tension. You can then remove the belt. Replace the belt by fitting it around the pulleys and lastly loosening the tension with the tensioner/idler pulley to allow the belt to fit over the last pulley.

Answer

1. Attach a 15mm socket or wrench to the bolt attaching the tensioner pulley.
2. On all 3.0L (OHV) engines, rotate the drive belt tensioner clockwise to relieve belt tension and slide the belt off the pulleys.
3. On 3.0L (DOHC) engines, rotate the tensioner counterclockwise to relieve belt tension and slide the belt off the pulleys.

Answer

There's an automatic belt tensioner pulley that keeps the proper tension on the belt. This is not adjustable.

To remove the belt, get a wrench (or the Ford tool) on the center bolt of the tensioner - its the only pulley that doesn't attach to anything, ie Power Steering,alt, water pump etc - and turn it away from the belt. When its loose enough, you can remove the belt. Remember how it goes on!

There is a square hole for a 1/2 socket or a bolt head on the tensioner pulley to connect to and pull the pulley away from the belt to enable removing the belt from the closest pulley you can with your free hand.

This can be insane and very time consuming. There were 3 types of engines made for this year. You need to know which one. All will take a 15mm offset box wrench. All types will need to be turn clockwise?

Use a large screwdriver or pry bar and insert it between the alternator pulley and the belt on top (the space just before the belt makes contact with the pulley) and pry belt to the outside of the pulley using the pulley for leverage. This may take a few tries. fell free to cut it off if your installing a new belt anyway. To install the belt look at the routing guide for the drive belt. It should be on a sticker right above you on the underside of the hood or the radiator support bracket.threading the belt can be tricky but you should get it after a few tries. Once the belt is threaded, pull onto alternator pulley as far as you can and use the screwdriver again to pry the belt back onto the pulley(again it may take a few tries) you may also be able to rotate the alternator pulley to help you get it started. I'm sure this is not the correct factory method of installing the belt but i have done it several times and have had no ill effects.

Answer

Yea, first you have to figure out how to loosen the tensioner then it is a breeze! Even I can do it then! Del

The tensioner is located above and to the right of the alternator. you have to remove the passenger side tire, and the plastic guard under the wheel well. Take a 15 mm wrench up inside and feel for the tensioner. Turn clockwise to loosen. Remove the belt, and go in reverse to put it back on.

There should be a square hole on the tensioner in which to fit either a 3/8 or 1/2 breaker bar to lift tension off belt for replacement

Answer

the library should have a shop manual for this vehicle, you can make copies of the right sections :)

The belt map may still be displayed on the radiator top . You need a tool/socket wrench to attach to the tensioner. Install the belt using the map with you or a helper pushing or pulling on the tensioner.Put the belt on the last pully. Release tensioner. Be sure belt is on and in all pully grooves correctly.

they make a wrench you put it on the belt tension pully and pull and its off. auto zone will rent you the tool for free

Answer

put a 15mm open end wrench on the tensioner. A socket will not fit. You will probably have to put a piece of pipe on it for extra torque. rotate it clockwise to release the belt. the installation diagram is under the hood. put belt in place.Rotate the tensioner again clockwise and then release slowly...That's it.

Answer

Most cars and trucks today have what is called a serpentine belt which runs most accessories.They are very dependable and usually easy to replace.

To decide if your belt needs replacing, simply look at the grooved side of the belt to see if it is cracking badly. A couple of cracks every 3 inches is normal, but if you see cracks every 1-2 inches I would recommend that you replace it.

On most cars and trucks the procedure is basically the same. First off, get the correct belt by bringing your cars VIN number to the parts store(located on your cars dashboard) the parts store may need it. If there are two choices, get them both so you can complete the repair.

Once you have the correct belt, take a minute to review how the belt runs across the pulleys and also check to see if your car/ truck has a under-hood diagram of belt routing in case you need it. In most cases you will need a socket wrench or breaker bar with either a 3/8" and /or 1/2" head on it and possibly a short extension. Some models may require a wrench of these similar sizes.

Now that you are ready to go to work, you will need to find the spring loaded tensioner which is generally located near the top of the belt path; it usually has a shinny pulley on it. Look at the tensioner and insert the tool into it and apply opposing pressure to release the tension on the belt. Now, simply install the new belt making sure it fits into the grooves on all the pulleys. Start the car to check it and you are done and you saved yourself some money!

Answer

Squeeky belts are a sign that something isn't aligned properly. Take it to a garage.

I have done this in my 99 Taurus. You have to take out the reservoir tank and go under your car and loosen the two motor mount bolts. Then find a spot to jack up the motor about 3 inches. You can get to the tensioner then. It is not really that hard. I don't understand why Ford made it so hard to change.

Or you could look over the "Related Questions" below and find out how others did it without going through these extra steps (including my own 1998 Sable DOHC)

diagram should be on the hood. Follow it and just loop the belt over the pulleys.Ensure all pulleys spin freely other than the main flywheel

Sometimes the diagram, right up over your head on the bottom of the front of the hood dries up and falls off. You can see another diagram at

http://z.about.com/d/autorepair/1/0/M/U62444298.gif

You need a 15mm box end wrench and possibly a piece of pipe to fit over it for leverage. Its NOT the easy to get at pulley right beneath the alternator. Its the other one below that, the one that's harder to get to. Put the wrench end over the nut in the center of the pulley and pull it towards (clockwise) the front of the car. The pulley will slip back and the belt will loosen.

1996 Ford Taurus

Answer

the directions should be right under the hood left hand side if not buy a chiltons book from orielly will show how belt goes on if not just follow pulleys belt will only go on one way

update...

If the plastic piece showing the diagram is missing on your car, you can call the ford dealership and have them e-mail it to you. They did that for me. I can tell you there are many places on the web (and many auto parts stores) which will show you the "correct" diagram for a car, but are completely wrong!!! I got about 4 or 5 "correct" diagrams for my Ford Windstar, all of which were wrong. it wasnt until i called the dealership and spoke with the parts dept. was I able to finally get a diagram that worked.

Steve phx AZ