stealman

I need to replace a fan belt The belt is literally shredding. How is the tension released? Should I replace the tensioner too?

KWKING

What year of truck ? On 2006 the tensioner has a 1/2" square drive hole , and not a lot of room to work. I have to remove the air box to access it. It is awkward to remove. I have a Gearwrench Serpentine Wrench and it works quite well as well as a coat hanger hook to help. Put on the heavy duty belt from Genos. If the tensioner has lateral play or free spins too much and sounds like dry bearings then maybe you should replace it. Genos has them too.

Chrisreyn

Ive been told that the " correct" way is to use a belt wrench,( 1/2" drive on my 04 as well) and release the tension and slid the belt off the alternator...

I just use my standard 1/2 drive ratchet, laying under the truck, and slide it up.Its a tight fit getting it into the tensioner but easier than trying to reach down from up top. I can pull the tensioner down and remove the belt off the AC compressor with no problem..
If the belt is totally shredded tho, your probably better off just cutting it. Be sure you get any fragments out of the pulleys before you install the new one..

Dr.Dizzle

stealman

Looks like you have an 03MY?

Open your hood and look down, it should have the routing diagram on the shroud. The automatic tensioner (# 7 ) is located below and between the alternator pulley(#1) and the water pump pulley (#2). You can place a 1/2" drive socket wrench or breaker bar into the square hole on the belt tensioner in order to relieve the tension from the belt.

And yes! I recommend you replace the tensioner, especially if it has over 125,000 mi on it. I use only the oem Cummins or the Goodyear brand tensioner assemblies. We have found that the other aftermarket tensioners do not hold up as well. They have plastic parts and tend to shred the end ribs of the belt away. If kept in service undetected, it could throw the belt off of the pulley and damage to hoses and wires can result from it.

KWKING

Maybe 2003 is like 2002,tons of room to get that sucker off, boy not on a 2006, I would hate to have to do a roadside change on mine!

stealman

Thanks for the help. The truck is a 04.5. I have a belt here, but not a tensioner. and I am a ways from a auto store. The good year and cummins are the only good tensioners? That might be tough for me to locate. Any others? Gates?

Hvytrkmech

The Goodyear is a gates. I just put one on my truck. 96k and the bearings were making some noise so I replaced it. Much beefier than the stock tensioner. Also has a steel wheel not a plastic one.

Dr.Dizzle

You can get the Gates tensioner at Napa. The Goodyear/ Gates are also available at RockAuto and Amazon.

stealman

Thanks for the help guys. I got the new belt on and am using the old tensioner for now. The wheel on the tensioner is not loose and no noises. How do I know when it is time to change it? I know you guys are going to tell me to just do it.

Dr.Dizzle

When it squeaks, moves a lot or throws the belt off into the fan wiring harness causing damage, then that would be a good time to do so.