Surpentine belt replacement

We spent a total of 90 minutes replacing the belt. That included removing the air cleaner, moving the MAS, taking off the mudguard and replacing the tensioner. Having two people really helped.

Thanks very much for those details, guys!

I got one replaced on a GM 2500 van recently, by my mechanic friend as part of a waterpump job. Twenty one years old and 270 k km. He did an amazing thing in the first step. He noticed that the shroud around the radiator fan was in two parts, bolted together. It took maybe half an hour to get the upper half out but it really opened up the whole front of the engine. Then it only took a few seconds to take the belt off, bending the tightener with a wrench on its bolt. The tightener, an idler and the alternator had bearings that needed replacing. Changing the water pump was easy. I figure he saved me $500.

As mentioned earlier by Dusty, if you are trying to fix a chirp or squeal, replacing the belt isn't a guaranteed fix.

At least for me over the years more often than not belt replacement has been a long term fix. I've used the Goodyear Gatorback belts to replace a chirping belt with good success. As the belts age they get hard and glazed and can get noisy. When the belt is off of course it is a good idea to check bearings of idlers, water pump, alternator etc.

What I found didn't work is belt dressings and products designed to minimize belt noise. Very short term fix with these.

Glad it went well. Money saved! :)

I just changed mine (4.8) this afternoon. Took 20 minutes and no troubles. Thanks for the confidence.

We got it installed this am. I want to thank all that responded with helpful hints...very usefull, especially with the routing procedure, removing the mudguard underneath for better access, and starting by routing the belt behind the tensioner first. Access from underneath was pretty tight...Popeye couldn't have done it.
Removing the air cleaner/inlet duct gave the access needed from above. I also removed the 4 bolts that held the MAS and, using a bungee cord, held it out of the way.
The old belt has 42,000 miles on it and 11 years. After removing it, it looked good as the new one...barely worn and no cracks....but, it was 11 years old. At least I have a spare ( not that I will ever need it ).
I picked up a Gates belt from Shucks Auto giving them the year, engine size, etc. and it was a perfect match.
Thanks again everyone...it was a big help.

ps....I also replaced the tensioner while I was at it since I was in there anyway...fairly easy and inexpensive.

I bought my replacement belt at Autozone. I just gave them the make, year, model, and engine (Ford, 2002, E450, 6.8L) and they looked up the belt. You can look it up on their web site with the same information. They had two different belts: Dayco, and Durolast. The Durolast is their own brand while Dayco is available at other places. Other people might recommend Goodyear or OEM, but I have used Dayco belts before and never had a problem so I went with that brand. As mentioned earlier by Dusty, if you are trying to fix a chirp or squeal, replacing the belt isn't a guaranteed fix.

r/ Mike

Any problem getting exactly the right belt? I think there are variations in chassis and I'm wondering if I should get a spare at the Ford dealer where I can give them a vin. Were you able to just go in and tell them your model/yr and get the right one?

A few years after the serpentine belt was being used a Ford mechanic told me that Ford told the mechanics NOT to change those belts unless they were loosing pieces.
Chirping is not the belt but a bearing, most likely an idler bearing.

Dusty

It's a pretty simple one man job if you use a task specific tool on the belt tensioner.

Easer to slip the belt over a large pulley than a small one.
So don't save the small one for last.