Tensioners on 1997 ford taurus serpentine belt

The 8th digit of your car's VIN (vehicle identification number) tells you the engine
type for your car - your choices for Ford Taurus are U (3.0L), and S (3.0L).
I've included the Ford SHO engine too.




Serpentine belt for 3.0L (Vin U) Ford Taurus


Serpentine belt for 3.0L (Vin S) Ford Taurus


Serpentine Belt for Ford 3.4L SHO engine


Water Pump belt for Ford 3.4L SHO engine

REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION

1. Attach a 15mm socket or wrench to the bolt attaching the tensioner pulley.
2. On all 3.0L (OHV) engines, rotate the drive belt tensioner clockwise to relieve belt tension and slide the belt off the pulleys.
3. On 3.0L (DOHC) engines, rotate the tensioner counterclockwise to relieve belt tension and slide the belt off the pulleys.
   

To install:

1. Install the drive belt on all the pulleys except the tensioner pulley.
2. Rotate the belt tensioner as outlined in the removal procedure to relieve belt tension and install the belt onto the tensioner pulley. Make sure the V-grooves make proper contact with the pulleys. Make sure the spring keeper releases or improper belt tension will occur.

Tip: you may want to get (free) a serpentine belt installation tool kit to help with this job.
Both Advance Auto Parts and AutoZone wisely have loan-a-tool programs that permit you
to borrow (for a deposit) their serpentine belt installation kits - which allow their
handy customers to use their auto parts rather than towing it to a garage.

SECTION 303-05: Accessory Drive 2006 Taurus Workshop Manual DESCRIPTION AND OPERATION Procedure revision date: 03/29/2005 Accessory Drive Printable View (137 KB) Accessory Drive Belt Routing
Item Part Number Description 1 10346 Generator pulley 2 8678 Belt idler pulley 3 3A733 Power steering pump pulley 4 8620 Drive belt 5 19D784 A/C clutch pulley 6 6B209 Drive belt tensioner pulley 7 6A312 Crankshaft pulley 8 8A528 Coolant pump pulley This vehicle is equipped with:

• a V-ribbed serpentine accessory drive belt.
• automatic drive belt tensioner(s).
• a V-ribbed coolant pump belt.

New drive belts should be of the same type as originally installed.

make sure the tensioner is tight,it has a spring in it to move clockwise,do not leave any bolt loose,make sure you are routing the belt where the tension holds the belt on,not other way.


Tim

OK, one doesn't need a belt routing diagram to reinstall a new belt.

Just route the belt so that one by one you put the ribbed part of the belt up against the ribbed pulleys, and the smooth part of hte belt up against the smooth pulleys. Do this until one arrives at the tensioner and release tension with a breaker bar to put the belt on the final tensioner pulley.

Check that the tensioner has enough spring load for the belt to maintain the right friction against all of the serpentine pulleys.

That's all there is to it.

Not sure if you have the 3.0L 2V or the 3L 4V so heres both. Hope it helps.. Cobra,, :-)
Accessory Drive Component Locations 3.0L (2V)
Item Part Number Description 1 10346 Generator pulley 2 8678 Belt idler pulley 3 3A733 Power steering pump pulley 4 8620 Drive belt 5 2E884 A/C clutch pulley 6 6B209 Drive belt tensioner pulley 7 6312 Crankshaft pulley 8 8509 Water pump pulley

Component Locations 3.0L (4V)
Item Part Number Description 1 3A733 Power steering pump pulley 2 8509 Water pump pulley 3 2E884 A/C clutch pulley 4 8620 Drive belt 5 6312 Crankshaft pulley 6 6B209 Drive belt tensioner pulley 7 10346 Generator pulley

Click on the following direct Link. It has the Serpentine Belt Diagrams that you will need, complete with Instruction and Directional Diagrams.

http://www.2carpros.com/car_repair_information/year/1998/make/ford/model/taurus/1998_ford_taurus_drive_belt_routing_diagram.htm


"HOW TO":
Standard Rules to Removal the Serpentine Belt with a Tensioner:
1. Find the Tensioner(s). (See Diagrams on Link)
2. Using a Serpentine Belt Tensioner Tool, Or Wrench OR Ratchet, Rotate/Move the Tensioner USING THE AVAILABLE NUT (on the Pulley or Arm Base) OR the OPENING (3/8ths or 1/2 inch square opening) rotating the Tensioner Pulley/Arm - moving it away from contact with the belt and towards the area where the belt is not in contact with the Tensioner Pulley. The Tensioner is spring loaded, and is hard to rotate/move.
3. Remove the loosened belt off one of the other more easily accessed Pulleys.
4. DO NOT quickly release the Tensioner, but gently allow the Tensioner to rest in its closed position.

Standard Rules for Installing the Serpentine Belt with Tensioners:
a. Pick a Pulley that is most easily accessed. This will usually be on top. This will be the last Pulley that the belt will go on.
b. Using the Diagram: Install the new Serpentine Belt on the remainder of the Pulleys....over, under, left right.
c. Using a Serpentine Belt Tensioner Tool or Wrench or Ratchet Tool: Rotate/Move the Tensioner Pulley/Arm "away" from Belt contact area on the Tensioner. This spring is pretty hard and with a new belt, it will be even harder to install. Rotate/Move this to as-close to the maximum allowed inorder to have enough slack in the belt to get it up and over the last pulley.
d. Using your other hand - Pull the Belt up and over the Last remaining Pulley.
e. Before releasing the pressure on the Tensioner, visually inspect the remainder Pulleys and the Belts' Positioning on them

Let me know if this helped, or if you have additional information or questions. Feel Free to contact me at FixYa.Com!

Remove and Replace the Serpentine Belt.
Click on the following free direct Link. It has the Serpentine Belt Diagram and Tensioner location for your 3.0L V6 including the DOHC engine.
http://www.2carpros.com/car_repair_information/year/2000/make/ford/model/taurus/2000_ford_taurus_drive_belt_routing_diagram.htm
GENERAL/Standard Rules to Removal the Serpentine Belt with a Tensioner:
A. Find the Tensioner(s). (See Diagrams on Link)
B. Using a Serpentine Belt Tensioner Tool, Or Wrench OR Ratchet, Rotate/Move the Tensioner USING THE AVAILABLE NUT (on the Pulley or Arm Base) OR the OPENING (3/8ths or 1/2 inch square opening) rotating the Tensioner Pulley/Arm - moving it away from contact with the belt and towards the area where the belt is not in contact with the Tensioner Pulley. The Tensioner is spring loaded, and is hard to rotate/move.
C. Remove the loosened belt off one of the other more easily accessed Pulleys.
D. DO NOT quickly release the Tensioner, but gently allow the Tensioner to rest in its closed position.

Standard Rules for Installing the Serpentine Belt with Tensioners:
a. Pick a Pulley that is most easily accessed. This will usually be on top. This will be the last Pulley that the belt will go on.
b. Using the Diagram: Install the new Serpentine Belt on the remainder of the Pulleys....over, under, left right.
c. Using a Serpentine Belt Tensioner Tool or Wrench or Ratchet Tool: Rotate/Move the Tensioner Pulley/Arm "away" from Belt contact area on the Tensioner. This spring is pretty hard and with a new belt, it will be even harder to install. Rotate/Move this to as-close to the maximum allowed inorder to have enough slack in the belt to get it up and over the last pulley.
d. Using your other hand - Pull the Belt up and over the Last remaining Pulley.
e. Before releasing the pressure on the Tensioner, visually inspect the remainder Pulleys and the Belts' Positioning on them

Let me know if this helped, or if you have additional information or questions. Feel Free to contact me at FixYa.Com!

use a 15mm box wrench on the nut retaining the tensioner pulley to pry the tensioner 'arm' against the spring to release belt. note belt routing on decal under hood,or make a sketch,to aid in replacement.
on OHV engine rotate clockwise
on OHC rotate counter clockwise
be sure belt is completely seated on pulleys

My sincere apologies for the delayed response.
I am personally going back to answer your unanswered questions.
I have only been a free contributor to this site for the past 4-months.

I do not know if you still need this information, but I am going ahead and answering it anyway.

CLICK on the following LINK. It has several Belt Diagrams, one which will match your specific engine and options (AC/No AC, Power Steering, .etc) that you will need.

Regarding HOW:
Standard Rules to Removal the Serpentine Belt:
1. Find the Tensioner(s). (See the Diagrams on Link)
2. Using a Serpentine Belt Tensioner Tool or Wrench or Ratchet Tool: Rotate/Move the Tensioner Pulley/Arm away from contact with the belt and towards the area where the belt is not in contact with the Tensioner Pulley. The Tensioner is spring loaded, and is hard to rotate/move.
3. Remove the loosened belt off one of the other more easily accessed Pulleys.
Standard Rules for Installing the Serpentine Belt:
a. Pick a Pulley that is most easily accessed. This will usually be on top. This will be the last Pulley that the belt will go on.
b. Using the Diagram: Install the new Serpentine Belt on the remainder of the Pulleys....over, under, left, right etc.
c. Using a Serpentine Belt Tensioner Tool or Wrench or Ratchet Tool: Rotate/Move the Tensioner Pulley/Arm "away" from Belt contact area on the Tensioner. This spring is pretty hard and with a new belt, it will be even harder to install. Rotate/Move this to as-close to the maximum ("open") allowed inorder to have enough slack in the belt to get it up and over the last pulley.
d. While keeping the Tensioner Pulley/Arm "open" Using your other hand - Pull the Belt up and over the Last remaining Pulley.
e. Before releasing the pressure on the Tensioner, visually inspect the remainder Pulleys and the Belts' Positioning on them.
Let me know if this helped...
Again my apologies..

http://www.2carpros.com/car_repair_information/year/1998/make/ford/model/taurus/1998_ford_taurus_drive_belt_routing_diagram.htm

Can't supply the diagram yet but I can tell you that your pulley or tensioner looks like this: