How do I loosen the serpentine belt on an 03 Marauder?

[bluesky636]

The idler pulley is squeeking quite badly and I want to loosen the belt and remove the pulley to examine it and grease it. How do I loosen the belt? Any other things to look for as far as the squeek? TIA

[Local Boy]

3/8 drive socket wrench in the square hole in the center, of the tensioner...turn clockwise...and the tensioner will move to the right, giving you slack to remove the belt...

Good Luck...

ALOHA

BTW: You can change just the bearings, no need to change the whole pulley...

[bluesky636]

3/8 drive socket wrench in the square hole in the center, of the tensioner...turn clockwise...and the tensioner will move to the right, giving you slack to remove the belt...

Good Luck...

ALOHA

BTW: You can change just the bearings, no need to change the whole pulley...

Excellent. Thanks.

And I assume that by removing the small bolt at the pivot on the idler will allow me to remove the idler itself?

[Local Boy]

Correct...

ALOHA

BTW: Make sure you torque to spec, when putting it back...

[ts-pa]

Just replaced mine as found in this (http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=42761&page=3) thread with picture.
Squeal was reduced. I'm replacing my tired alternator with one that has the clutch pulley. Maybe this will stop the squeal during shifting. As you can see, my current alternator has plain pulley.

[bluesky636]

Thanks. I got the idler pully off no problem. Did not have to replace it. Turns out there is a rubber plug on the top of the housing that holds the big-ass spring inside that is used to put tension on the belt. I pulled the plug and filled the inside of the spring housing with white lithium grease and no more squeels!

[ts-pa]

That'a an interesting fix. I don't think that I would have thought of the spring being the source of a squeak. Learn something everyday, Good find! :up:

[BAD MERC]

Just my opinion - and I believe the sentiment will be shared. Your idler/ tensioner are 6 years old. Buy new ones and toss the old ones in your trunk. They work now and would make great emergency parts in the event that the new ones fail in the future. I keep my old ones in a tool kit and changing my belt or pulleys will be a snap even at 3AM in the middle of BFE.

[ts-pa]

^^^^--That's what I'm doing with my old parts--^^^^

[ts-pa]

:director::welcome1: :cheer:


:party::rock::sing: :cuke: :bunny2::party::banana:

Welcome to the party!
It's best that you hide your wallet, mods can be addictive!

[bluesky636]

Just my opinion - and I believe the sentiment will be shared. Your idler/ tensioner are 6 years old. Buy new ones and toss the old ones in your trunk. They work now and would make great emergency parts in the event that the new ones fail in the future. I keep my old ones in a tool kit and changing my belt or pulleys will be a snap even at 3AM in the middle of BFE.

Well, at 5 years and 54K miles, I'm not worried about things like that breaking. My Expedition is 11 years old with 130K miles and except for shocks and brakes is all original. :)

[bluesky636]

That'a an interesting fix. I don't think that I would have thought of the spring being the source of a squeak. Learn something everyday, Good find! :up:

The rubber plug is accessible without even removing the idler arm from the engine. Of course, I didn't realize that until I had taken it off. If you look at the idler arm, just to the right of the arm itself on the spring housing, you will see two things protruding from the housing. One is the end of the spring itself, and the other is the rubber plug. Just pop it out and you can shoot grease in there. I just used white lithium from a spray can. Pulling the arm off, I discovered an open vent hole at the bottom of the spring housing. I also shot grease into that for maximum coverage.

[Local Boy]

The concern is not breaking the spring; but having your belt slip during hard acceleration due to your tensioner not having enough load (spring function) on the belt...

ALOHA

[bluesky636]

The concern is not breaking the spring; but having your belt slip during hard acceleration due to your tensioner not having enough load (spring function) on the belt...

ALOHA

And why should I worry about that after only 50K miles? Not being a smart ass, but this is not the only Ford engine to use this tensioner and idler arm. Is there a known problem with them. Besides, the car is not a racecar, its my wife's commuter car. :)

[Local Boy]

I'm not saying you should do anything...worry or anything else...

Just sharing information...

If this kind of information sharing helps you...Then Right-on!!!

If, it does not... Please know the intention is to simply help others, who may benifit...

I will keep your sentiments in mind, and will refrain from making this mistake again, should you post any questions in the future...:)

ALOHA

[Egon Spengler]

what is the torque on that bolt for the tensioner pulley?

[Local Boy]

I'll put it up when I get home...

ALOHA

[Mongoose]

what is the torque on that bolt for the tensioner pulley?

First tighten tensioner to 10 Nm (89 lb-in), then turn an additional 90 degrees.
Ribbed idler pulley is 25 Nm (18 lb-ft)

[MENINBLK]

And why should I worry about that after only 50K miles? Not being a smart ass, but this is not the only Ford engine to use this tensioner and idler arm. Is there a known problem with them. Besides, the car is not a racecar, its my wife's commuter car. :)

Your serpentine belt should not be on the engine for more than 50,000 miles.
It is a wearable part and needs to be replaced too.