iloveP51s

Hi,

I'm pretty new to car repair--I've only replaced the air filter, front brakes, and power steering pressure hose on my mustang, but now it needs a new serpentine belt and I can't figure out how to relieve tension on the belt.

There is an enclosed cog with what looks like a Torx hole in it, and just below and to the right of that is the tensioner pulley with an 18mm bolt, and when I turn it clockwise with an 18mm wrench the bolt just unscrews--no loosening of tension. When I try to turn the bolt counterclockwise, nothing happens. It seems like the screw is getting stripped.

What am I doing wrong?

Thanks,
A very confused girl

invisableflames

All you need is a 3/8" or 1/2" ratchet depending on what tensioner setup you have. Find the square hole near the tensioner pulley its, on the bracket holding the tensioner pulley. Insert the correct ratchet in the square hole and pull the appropriate way. While holding the tension off the belt slide it off. No bolts or anything need to come off to release tension, the bracket holding the pulley is just spring loaded, putting tension on the belt. You just use a ratchet to pull against the tension, removed the belt and slowly let the tensioner go back without pinching your fingers on anything. It can be a two person job sometimes. Hope this helps.

AirBrontosaurus

You need to use the square hole on the end of your ratchet or breaker bar and insert that into the pulley. Then, you'll be able to turn the entire assembly with the ratchet/breaker bar and that will release tension on the pulley.

Here's an example picture:



See that little square hole on the right-hand side of the picture? That is what you need to put your ratchet/breaker bar into. Then, just rotate the ratchet/breaker bar (counter-clockwise, I believe) and the pulley releases it's tension.

iloveP51s

mine doesn't look like that--you can't access it from the front.

LS WHAT

then put a wrench on the tensioner bolt and see if it turns in the direction of releasing tension without loosing the bolt

iloveP51s

clockwise it just unscrews the bolt.

counterclockwise, it feels like it's gonna strip the bolt and the arm doesn't budge.

iloveP51s

clockwise it just undoes the bolt. counterclockwise, it feels like it's gonna strip the bolt, and the arm doesn't budge.

i was hoping someone would tell me what the right direction is.

AirBrontosaurus

Is there a square hole on the back of the tensioner? You might have to get underneath the car to see it.

That front bolt holds the tensioner to the block. If you tighten it too much you'll strip it, and if you loosen it eventually the tensioner will fall out. There should be somewhere to insert a bar to take the tension off of the belt. Otherwise you're going to have to put pliers around it and muscle it (I've done this, not a whole lot of fun) or take the tensioner all the way off, fix the belt and then put the tensioner back on (which kind of defeats the purpose of a tensioner).

Your profiles says you have a 2001 Mustang, is it a GT or a V6?

iloveP51s

its V6

Tyler Fochtman

This is the back where you would insert the ratchet head or belt tension tool.