I noticed a noise from under the hood a couple days ago, pop the hood and see that the serpentine belt is frayed.
Turn the engine off, and took a look see.

Couldnt see anything obvious, and I knew the belt wasnt all that old...maybe a few months.

Pull it, put a new one on.

Everything is lined up perfect.

Crank the motor over a couple of times. Then went to check before letting the engine run.
As the belt leaves the A/C compressor and goes up to the tensioner pulley, it was riding slightly off the inside edge of the A/C pulley.

So, no problem, I loosened the tensioner pulley and pushed the belt back flush with the A/C pulley.
Go back in the truck and trun it over a couple of times, go to check and it is starting again to work it's way off the inside of the A/C pulley.

Repeated a few times, to no avail.

I honestly cannot see anything that might be causing this.

The only thing that might cause it would be if the tensioner pulley was somehow out of alignment or something.

Any ideas?

 

Time for a new tensioner sounds like.

 

I second that mine did the same thing.

 

Tensioner wears out at the pivot point and needs to be replaced.

 

is there a mileage where these start to wear out? a preventive thing? Thanks

 

I replace mine at every belt, just cheap insurance to avoid tossing a belt into the radiator. Most dealers will replace them at the second belt, but there are also five open chambers when you play Russian Roulette.

 

I"m going to do the idler & tensioner pulley bearing when I change the belt. 3 years old and 70,500 mi.

 

I went through 3 in 2000 miles ( with a new tensioner ) could not figure it out.....replaced it with an other brand x been doing fine for the last 10000 ! Now figure that one out !

 

Not a bad plan but in my experience it's not the pulley or bearing that wears out first but rather the pivot point that the whole assembly hinges on.
Makes the idler pulley tilt a little bit throwing things out of line.

 

Thank you all for the info.

Question.

Are you saying I should go ahead and replace the whole assembly? The pulley AND the bracket that it is attached to?

The pulley at Advance Auto is 30, and the bracket is 60...

So, I dont want to spend the money for the bracket unless you guys think that it could be what is responsible.

thanks again

 

Can remove the tentioner and see what the bracket looks like, then go from there. Be a good idea to check out the idler pulley to, if it has one and check the condition of the bearing.

 

Thanks,
I know it is directly related to the tensioner pulley, as this is where the belt starts to peel off the inside of the A/C pulley. It would seem to make moe sense to me that the bracket was bent somehow and causing this.

The tensioner pulley itself doesnt seem to be in poor condition, as it spins easily. But I will replace it just eliminate this as a cause.

The bracket is 60 bucks though, so I am going to try and be certain before shelling this out.

 

You won't have to replace the entire pulley, just the bearing. Have to find a shop press if you don't have one.

 

I'm sorry, take advice and change tensioner assy. You will find the tensioner has a small amount of give back and forth. Just enough to change the alignment of belt and allow it to ride on outside of pulley. Hence your problem. By the time you get pulley installed you will have more time invested than the extra 30 bucks.

 

okay, I'm going in to order the whole kit and kaboodle from advance today


really appreciate the help