A new one: serp tensioner assembly falls off 2.3 duratec.

[simple_gifts]

Driving down Main Street in the 2300 in my town and suddenly hear some squeaking, then something falls off the truck and I see it bouncing down the road in back of me, but the squeaking has stopped. Decide to beeline back to the house as 500 things ricochet thru my head as to what that was... Then the steering gets "kinda heavy" followed by the ALT light and seconds later the HOT light

Ignition is immediately turned off and I coast down the road toward the fire station and then realize the steering wheel is locked, so i rectify that fast.

Turn into the F.S. and open the hood;

Overflow tank is totally full and pressurized; Serpentine belt hanging on the crossmember with the tensioner there too. It appears the springy part decided to disassemble itself and drop off the truck. The tensioner pulley is fully intact.

Look thru some sites for a spare; Can't figure out what else needs to be removed from the truck or how the new ones fit one.... just in the preliminary stages of looking @ it.

Super cool AAA guy shows up with a slider and brings me another .5 miles to my house. Not taking any chances with an Al block and head. I think the car ran about 5 seconds with the HOT light on and another 15 when it was driven onto the slider. Not driving it .5 miles with no WP.

No ? at this point, just thought this failure was a head scratcher.

-T

 

[pezzy669]

Your belt tensioner or one of the idler pulleys said no no on you. Typyically recommended to replace everything that is not a hard (alternator, ac compressor, water pump) during a belt change.

 

[anndel]

Never heard of this one. Any chance the tensioner was replaced before? Perhaps with a cheap part? I've seen tensioners jam where it stopped spinning and locked up thus smoking the belt.

 

[simple_gifts]

No chance; I am the original owner. Looks like the bolt sheared off and is stuck in the Al mounting bracket. The bracket holds the alt and compressor; it appears to be cast aluminum; I might have to remove all that stuff and the bracket to remove the bolt... not fun; soaking in aerokroil now....