I have a 1999 Mercury Sable. The only problem I have had with the car is the serpentine belt. It started 3 months ago . . . the engine was overheating and the belt was shredding. I bought a belt tensioner and a new serpentine belt -- but that did not fix the problem (the belt shredded 5 days later). Then I bought an idler pulley and another new serpentine belt -- but that did not fix the problem and the belt shredded again within a day. Finally I bought a new water pump and that fixed the problem. However, 3 months later I had the serpentine belt shred again . . . can anyone give me some ideas as to what is wrong? My mechanic says it is the water pump pulley because it has a small 'chunk' missing out of it on the rim and that is the reason the belt is shredding . . . . however, when I went to purchase the water pump pulley the man who sold it to me said that it does not matter that there is a 'chunk' missing because it will not affect the serpentine belt. Please help!! . . . . I am adding on to this problem AND POSTING AGAIN. . . I replaced both the water pump pulley (has NO 'chunk' missing now) and the serpentine belt yesterday . . . TODAY the belt shredded again . . . it appears to be sliding slowly but surely to the edge and the rim of the pulley is shredding it up . . . PLEASE HELP!!

Can I add a comment if this isn't my question? Actually a question. Just in case this mite be the reason for my problem with the belts.(fraying and shredding) What if a pulley IS out of line , how is it fixed and what is an approx. cost..Thx Sandy Can I add a comment if this isn't my question? Actually a question. Just in case this mite be the reason for my problem with the belts.(fraying and shredding) What if a pulley IS out of line , how is it fixed and what is an approx. cost..Thx Sandy

Usually if there is a pulley out of line it would be a bad bearing in the pulley, however without looking at it and knowing exactly which one is the problem it's hard for me to tell you how to fix it properly or how much it will cost. When you replaced the tensioner and the idler pulley if you got cheap parts they could be bad again. If the power steering pulley is bad the pump needs to be replaced but on the power steering pulley check to make sure that the center of the pulley where it's pressed onto the shaft is flush if the center of the pulley and the shaft are not flush that needs to be fixed. If the alternator pulley is out of line either the bearing in the alternator is bad or is somehow bolted on wrong which is doubtful. other than that is hard for me to say without seeing it. Keep me posted on the situation. Usually if there is a pulley out of line it would be a bad bearing in the pulley, however without looking at it and knowing exactly which one is the problem it's hard for me to tell you how to fix it properly or how much it will cost. When you replaced the tensioner and the idler pulley if you got cheap parts they could be bad again. If the power steering pulley is bad the pump needs to be replaced but on the power steering pulley check to make sure that the center of the pulley where it's pressed onto the shaft is flush if the center of the pulley and the shaft are not flush that needs to be fixed. If the alternator pulley is out of line either the bearing in the alternator is bad or is somehow bolted on wrong which is doubtful. other than that is hard for me to say without seeing it. Keep me posted on the situation.

what is the cost of replacing a pulley in a 98 mazda 626 Do each of the pulleys the cost the same to replace? what is the cost of replacing a pulley in a 98 mazda 626 Do each of the pulleys the cost the same to replace?