My last post on this got whacked for some reason, so here goes again:
When I put the new belt on, I noticed (looking over the passenger fender) I see the belt between the alt and AC comp, and behind it I see a few ribs of the belt that is wrapped around the tensioner, so it looks like the tensioner might be out of alignment.
Does this sound right?

 

If your truck ate your last belt by wearing off one or more ribs on one side, you can pretty well bet that your idler assembly (tensioner and pulley, not just the pulley) is worn and going bye-bye. A new belt will get eaten rather quickly by a worn tensioner (ask me how I know ) so unless you've already replaced the tensioner, I'd get a new one.

 

Mine ate one about every 10,000 miles and a friend of mine had a 24V that did it as well. I put tensioners on both trucks that fixed the problem. Warranty on the belts, they just mysteriously failed . Check for belt imbedded in the a/c compressor clutch as well.

 

Thanks, is that a dealer only item? It took me a while to get the belt pieces unwrapped from the fan spindle and out of the clutch on the A/C compressor. As I said before, fingers also plump when you cook 'em!

 

I try to buy as few parts from mopar as possible. Cummins almost always wants less than mopar, just take the serial # off the timing cover with you.

I bought a Gates replacement from the local O'relly store for $105 . It does have a steel pulley. The original plastic one wears a little more on the timing cover side over time and screws up the belt geometry, resulting in derailment at the a/c compressor.

 

I got mine from the local carquest parts store. I dont recall how much it was, but you need a new one for sure.

 

Woooa....carquest had one two weeks ago at $42 +TTL

 

I would advise folk that with parts from carquest you get what you pay for!

 

Mine was a Gates too and it had the 1/2" socket hole compared to the old 3/8". I think it's a matter of smart shopping. I also had to recently replace my starter and the _same_ starter at carquest was $172, at oreilly it was $129...same manufacture.

 

Carquest wanted $150 for a plastic wheel, AutoZone $60 for plastic, NAPA $130 for metal. I went with metal...

 

I think the metal pulley is the way to go. As for price bickering, well it just depends where you live and how bad you need the truck to run, I drive mine everyday 75+ miles. Just getting the part where I live is most of the battle.

 

I thought the pulley was supposed to have this ridge on it! Seriously!

 

wow thats really bad!!! The 2 I fixed barely had a ridge.

 

Well, hopefully the metal wheel will solve the problem.
Thanks!

 

That ridge is a problem but don't let the lack of a ridge fool you. Mine had no ridge on the wheel but the spring pivot point was worn so that the whole tensioner arm was cockeyed and that caused mine to eat a belt.