bytesnooper

I want to replace the serpentine belt, but I not sure how to release the tension on the belt. It you have to get a socket on the bolt that attaches the automatic belt tensioner to the engine. I would like someone to explain how you get anything on the bolt. There most be 3/8 on and ince room. there are air conditioning hoses in the way and i can't get anthing in there on that bolt.

I believe that if I loosen the bolt that bolts the tensioner to the engine I can then move it forward with a bar to release the belt.
Its a 2002 Taurus DOHC engine. I'm sure many of you out there tackeled this problem and I would
appreciate your solution. thanks

chipset

What does your manual say ? There might be a 3/8 or 1/2 square on the back of the
tensioner. Don't even think of loosening the engine to tensioner bolt without taking the belt off first. The bolt could bend and strip out of the block. Even worse the bolt could
break. There is enough tension on the spring to trap your hand or even cut it off.

360ci

If all else fails, do it from under the car. I had to do it this way on an older truck of mine. I can't recall a problem replacing the belt on my '99 Taurus. I took a ratchet, pulled in the one pulley on the side and removed the belt. Just be careful that once you remove the belt, if you can manage from the top of the engine, that the ratchet will want to force itself back farther than where you had originally latched onto the pulley.

__________________
'00 Durango R/T 360ci 290hp (modded); 138,500m
'06 Pontiac G6 GT 3.5L 220hp; 44,000m
'12 Chrysler 200 Limited 3.6L 283hp; 13,000m
'99 Taurus 3.0L 2V Vulcan 145hp; 154,300m - Traded
Amsoil in all vehicles!

bytesnooper

I tried to put a bar on the tensioner and move it to loosen up the
belt, but it will not move. Somethings that i read suggest to loosen
up the bolt that holds the tensioner. I can rent the belt
removal kit from autozone and it has the 15mm socket
for the tensioner in the kit. This is the size of the bolt
for the tensioner. you most have to be strong to move
this tensioner away from the belt.

I was hoping that someone with a 2002 taurus has done and
could state for sure just move the tensioner forward away from the
belt.

Bert

Make sure you move it in the right direction. It does use a 15mm tool. Don't loosen the tensioner bolt, it has nothing to do with the belt removal. If you're using a regular wrench, it will be to hard to move. There's not enough leverage that way.

bytesnooper

thanks for the reply. I am going to see if I can get a breaker bar
without a socket on the end into that square near the idler wheel
and see it I can move it away from the belt to remove tension.
just a little experiment before I buy a belt.