Tightening serpentine belt on 2001 P T cruirers

serpentine belt is getting old and hard and the cold weather was causing it to slip
check belt condition ( small cracks across the grooves = scrap and get a new one) and check tension

power steering fluid!

wild guess? not. so my answer is DIY.

first tighten all accessory belts to factory spec.
or replace them if old. i bet yours are?

if not belts (you can drop belst off a cold engine to find which is bad)
a 2min test, if you drop water pump belt.

use a rubber hose to ear and listen for it, find the location of noise.
then use a $5 stethoscope. and find it.

first tighten all accessory belts to factory spec.

Here you go. Hope this helps :)

Instructions

1. • 1
     Lift the Expedition's hood manually. Remove the negative battery cable end from the negative battery terminal using the battery wrench. Make sure to put the cable end in a place where it cannot accidentally contact the battery during the repair.
     
   • 2
     Examine the serpentine belt routing diagram for the location of the Expedition's automatic belt tensioner. The Expedition's belt routing diagram is on the fan shroud.
     
   • • 
       
     
     
   • 3
     Move the automatic belt tensioner off the belt with the serpentine belt tool. Pull the belt off the alternator pulley by hand before releasing the pressure on the tensioner with the tool and allowing the tensioner to slowly move back into position.
     
   • 4
     Remove the Expedition's charging circuit harness from the back of the alternator by hand. Remove the ground strap for the alternator's ground stud using the socket set.
     
   • 5
     Remove the mounting bolts that hold the alternator to the alternator bracket using the socket set. Lift the alternator out of the Expedition's engine bay by hand. Set the replacement alternator into the alternator bracket manually.
     
   • 6
     Install the alternator mounting bolts by hand first and then tighten them with the socket set. Connect the charging circuit harness by hand. Bolt the ground strap to the ground stud with the socket set.
     
   • 7
     Reinstall the serpentine belt onto the alternator pulley by reversing your removal method. Bolt the negative battery cable back onto the battery using the battery wrench. Close the Expedition's hood.
     

You need to check the charging system. Take a volt OHM meter and go to the positive and then the negative posts. It will tell you how many volts it is putting out. If it is not charging at least 13.9 volts, then you bought a faulty alternator. If the alternator is good then check the belts to make sure they are tight enough. When you push on the belt at about 3 inches from the alternator it should not give more than 1/4 to 1/2 inch. If it does move more, then tighten the belts. If it is a V belt, just tighten the alternator. If a serpentine belt, check the belt tensioner and belt routing to make sure it is on right. The diagram should be under the hood.

Hi there,

I'm guessing either the idler or tensioner pulley has a bearing thats about to go, that causes it to intermittently freeze up.

During these episodes, the engine is turning but nothing else is.
Symptoms:

1. No power steering.
2. No power from alternator (charge system)
3. Screeching
4. Smell like burning rubber/Smoke
5. Extended episode would cause overheat.
6. A/C not functioning.
7. The belt will become frayed and break.

If the belt breaks, you could be left stranded with a dead battery and an over heated engine that once you cool it down and get a jump will repeat the whole thing to strand you again in ten minutes

does it go away as it warms up ? or does it stay that way check belt tension

Its really hard to tell. When cold in the morning a battery that is at the end of its life can act like that. Also dirty battery connections can have a symptom like this also. The best bet is to go get the charging, battery and starter checked out. We have tools that can determine the cause in about 5 minutes.

when you put a new belt its ok for a while and its come back if all our problem started when alternator was change if everything is straith got the right poolly on it right amounth of groove. the poolly is worn off the belt seat to deap in the groov e it hapen with rebuilt alternator check it out pierre

It is probably related to your starter motor. I am just about to replace mine (2004 mdx) with a rebuilt and expect that will solve the problem.

If you overtighten the serpentine belt, you will destroy your power steering pump, so be careful.