Belt tensioner shaking

[Rookie_FitItMan]

At idle, my serpentine belt tensioner has a case of the shakes. Like it is constantly adjusting for something out of round. Water pump pully? Alternator? idunnno... Looking for things to check. Suggestions please.

Rookie.:help:

[MENINBLK]

At idle, my serpentine belt tensioner has a case of the shakes. Like it is constantly adjusting for something out of round. Water pump pully? Alternator? idunnno... Looking for things to check. Suggestions please.

Rookie.:help:

Normal....

When it starts to make noise, your dealer will glady
replace it under warranty.

[Rookie_FitItMan]

Purchased from a previous owner. Never had a car within the warranty window, not sure even how to get it registered, or if registration is required. I suppose a trip to the Murcury dealer is at hand this weekend. What should I expect? Car has 38,300 miles.

[Rookie_FitItMan]

The shakes are worse with A/C on, but remain present all the time. I read some of these tips in a related thread:

Three things can cause this "bobbing". In the order of frequency are (in my 10 years as ASE Master Tech experience): #1) Worn belt that has low spots in it, #2) Debris on one or more of the pulleys that makes a high spot; and #3) bent or loose pulley, or one with a bad bearing.
A visual on a running engine will show up #3 & #2 most of the time and if you don't determine the problem is there, just replace the belt.

So I'll check the tensioner bearing, bushing, replace worn belt and look for dirt in pullys.

Found pricing at fordpartsnetwork.com:
SERPENTINE IDLER PULLEY, All Models 00-05 $19.02 $0.00 $15.98
Maintenance & lubrication - Engine service - belts & pulleys - Serpentine idler pulley


SERPENTINE TENSIONER, All Models, From 6/24/92 00-05 $51.33 $0.00 $43.12
Maintenance & lubrication - Engine service - belts & pulleys - Serpentine tensioner


If there is a better, Marauder specific, parts place, I'd like to hear about it.

Rookie

[torinodan]

Mine had the shakes when it was new and under drive pullies fixed it. The shakes are now controlled. This might be a good chance to kill 2 birds with one stone kinda thing. Get the UDP's.

[Smokie]

Mine had the shakes when it was new and under drive pullies fixed it. The shakes are now controlled. This might be a good chance to kill 2 birds with one stone kinda thing. Get the UDP's.

What he said, exactly. The U/D's made the shake go away totally.

[Rookie_FitItMan]

Torino, Smokie,
UPD - Under Drive Pully. Is that part of the stock configuration for the serpentine belt or a bolt on accessory? Where can I order up a UDP on-line?

Rookie

[MM03MOK]

Torino, Smokie,
UPD - Under Drive Pully. Is that part of the stock configuration for the serpentine belt or a bolt on accessory? Where can I order up a UDP on-line?

Rookie
http://reinhartautomotive.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=12345&Product_Code=MM-SUP&Category_Code=9

[Thomas C Potter]

My '03 has some shake at idle. As someone here mentioned previously, and assuming pulleys are clean / true, it would be wise to replace the belt sooner than recommended and check bushings/bearings of tensioner when belt is off. My bushings / bearings are still good at 23K. 2 guys at work with 4.6 sohc have smooth tensioners.

TP

[David Morton]

With a fresh belt and good clean pullies (of any kind) that tensioner should not move! The more it "shakes" the more it works that bushing and the tensioner will wear out faster. Seeing the price for the tensioner at roughly twice the cost of a new belt makes the decision to just kill both birds at the same time attractive though maybe not necessary. When you get the belt off, work the tensioner back and forth and judge the condition of the bushing inside. If it's tight and free, just put on a new belt. If it's loose or sticky or seems dry (it's greased inside) replace it.

[SergntMac]

Replacement for 29 bucks, page down here:

http://www.karkraft.com/modular_parts.htm

[Rider90]

Another reason to get U/D pullies ;)