SOLVED: Serpentine Belt Tensioner problems Squealing

[RedRider]

Well, I have one more post to help solve problems, after that I am going to a begging mo fo! :) I really need to title this... "WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT CHANGING A FRIGGIN BELT WOULD BE THIS DIFFICULT".

I tried to change the serpentine belt on my truck with 70k miles. I bought a standard belt at Autozone. The problem that happened is that after I changed the belt, my truck would routinely squeal loud until it caught up with the engine rpm. After that everything ran fine. On humid / rainy days, the squealing would last much longer.

I was really annoying my neighbors with this squealing noise so early in the morning, so I bought a 'high end' Gatorback belt. Well... the same thing happened.

What is a person to do? If you go by the folks at an autoparts store you need a new tensioner! WRONG!

I actually bought a new tensioner but, on the way home I was thinking I need to stop at Ford and compare belt sizes! I did and guess what, both belts bought from Autozone were about 1 to 2 inches longer than the belt that Ford sold. The serpentine belt at Ford cost $40.

I went home and put the Ford OEM serpentine belt on, and sure enough the squealing went away... forever! I never needed to replace the tensioner, the problem was the belt size!

If anyone has this same problem please post specifics about your truck. I have a 2002 4.0L SOHC 4wd. Back in the day, when I went to Autozone.com and this model was in the MINORITY now it is the majority, so I wonder if they were pulling a part number from a different model truck??

I STRONGLY suggest measuring up your old serpentine belt with the replacement.

I hope this info helps someone in the future.
Cheers
-Brian

[WIEGS]

I think they might of given you the belt for an OHV thinking it wouldn't matter. I dunno just an idea. Whats the length of the belt anyway?

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

We have run across this problem a few times where i work ( ford dealership) when we were out of stock on certain belts or customers would install napa belts and have them squeel. The aftermarket belts seem to be a bit longer than the OEM's

[Greatbear]

I was at wits end with this truck making noise. I found out that the belt dimensions make a big difference and not all auto parts stores follow the Ford standard for these. When i looked up NAPA i found their MICRO-V AT belt and put it on. (it is made by Gates). NO SQUEAKS, NO SQUEAL, NO MORE @#$% Noise. There is a god who drives a Ford. lolhttp://www.therangerstation.com/forums/images/smilies/yahoo.gif

[SnC RangeR]

same thing happened to me, i learned the hard way.