Serpentine suggestions?

[BrittanyPI86]

Greetings all!
I bought my Ranger last week knowing it needs a new serpentine belt... I've wanted to learn more about maintaining/repairing my own vehicle, so this seemed like a great project to start.
It's a 1999 Ranger XLT 4x4, automatic 3.0L V6. The instructions right under the hood are pristine and it looks pretty straight forward. I started looking online and there are so many options that fit my particular model year. My question is what do you think would be the best serpentine belt for my truck? (Feel free to laugh if this is a silly question. I'm a total novice here!)

-Brittany PI

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I like Gates.

While changing the belt it may not be a bad idea to change the tensioner and idler(s) too. It would be a shame to change the belt and and have one of them go bad and throw the new belt into the fan shortly thereafter.

 

[redhurricane]

Gates makes a quality product. the belt you have will have a part number on the outside of it, you can use that number to reference a direct replacement. When you take the old one off, bundle it up and store it somewhere in the cab out of the way. When serpentine belts fail, it's generally not in front of the auto parts store and having a temporary spare comes in handy. A basic tool set with the right size ratchet and a used belt will get you home (or to the store for a new belt)

+1 on the inspection/replacement of the tensioner pulley/idler pulley(s). Wife was driving my GMC duramax last year and lost an idler pulley and belt. Steering an 8000# truck with no power assist did not make her happy.

 

[adsm08]

Wife was driving my GMC duramax last year and lost an idler pulley and belt. Steering an 8000# truck with no power assist did not make her happy.

And aren't those hydroboost brakes too?

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Gates makes a quality product. the belt you have will have a part number on the outside of it, you can use that number to reference a direct replacement. When you take the old one off, bundle it up and store it somewhere in the cab out of the way. When serpentine belts fail, it's generally not in front of the auto parts store and having a temporary spare comes in handy. A basic tool set with the right size ratchet and a used belt will get you home (or to the store for a new belt)

Compare the sizes but usually things running on the back of the belt work the numbers and lettering off.

 

[BrittanyPI86]

Awesome! Thanks for all the input.

 

[redhurricane]

And aren't those hydroboost brakes too?

Brakes work off the vacuum pump, which is also on the same serpentine belt along with the alternator. SO yes, 8000# manual steer and manual brake truck. Wife was a sharpshooter in the Navy, so she can get mean when she needs to. She managed to limp the truck home.

Brittany if the letters are gone off the back of the belt have the parts shop match up what you have by size. Still keep the "old" as a spare for emergencies unless it's really dry and cracked.

 

[BrittanyPI86]

Thanks, Red. The belt is frayed on the edges, but otherwise it doesn't look too cracked or too dried out. My usual mechanic mentioned it when he looked the truck over, but it wasn't on his list of pressing concerns (busted shackles & brackets, rusted fuel filler neck, frozen e brake cable took the lead on that list). I figured it would be a good starter project, and a nice way to spend a Sunday at my dad's.
Good suggestion to keep it around just in case. It'll join my little Husky inflator and snow gear in that storage spot behind the small back seats (is there a name for that?).

 

[redhurricane]

"jump seats".

I never used to carry a spare serpentine belt. then I needed one. Now I carry one, and it seems never need it.

 

[enjr44]

"jump seats".

I never used to carry a spare serpentine belt. then I needed one. Now I carry one, and it seems never need it.

That is the way it is supposed to work!!

 

[naford]

I used a goodyear belt. I don't have a belt tool so I took a ratchet wrench and duct taped it to the inside of a pipe. This allowed me plenty of torque to hold the pipe with my elbow and use both hands on the new belt.