How to Tighten the Belt on a '99 F150

In 1997, Ford did an odd thing by completely redesigning the F-150, but leaving its two big brothers, the F-250 and F-350, to carry on with the previous body style. The big boys finally had their turn for redesign in the 1999 model year, as the F-150 was entering its third year with this new and radical body style. The 1999 F-150 came standard with a 205-horsepower, 4.2-liter V-6 engine, which used a serpentine belt system to drive the accessory pulleys. When the drive belt becomes excessively loose, there is no adjustment. The only way to restore belt tension is to replace the spring-loaded automatic belt tensioner.

Instructions

Removal

1

Draw a diagram of the serpentine belt routing, using a pen and paper.

2

Find the belt tensioner assembly, the pulley-and-arm assembly to the passengers side of the water pump-and-fan clutch pulley. Place a breaker bar and socket on the bolt in the center of the tensioner assembly pulley and rotate the breaker bar counterclockwise to relieve tension from the belt. Pull the belt off all the pulleys.

3

Allow the tensioner to rotate clockwise until it reaches its resting position

4

Inspect the belt for any defects, including: glazing, fraying, breakage or missing chunks of rubber. Replace the belt if any defects exist.

5

Remove the bolt securing the tensioner assembly to the engine, using a ratchet and Torx-bit socket. Pull the tensioner from the engine.

Installation

6

Guide the new tensioner onto the engine, inserting the locating pin on the rear of the tensioner into the locating hole in the engine block.

7

Hand-tighten the tensioners mounting bolt, then torque it to 40 foot-pounds, using a torque wrench and Torx-bit socket.

8

Route the serpentine belt over all of the pulleys except the tensioner, using the diagram you drew as you guide. Rotate the tensioner counterclockwise with a breaker bar and socket, then align the serpentine belt with the tensioner pulley.

9

Allow the tensioner pulley to slowly rotate toward the belt until it holds tension on the drive belt.