![]() 11/12/2016 at 00:05 • Filed to: None | ![]() | ![]() |
Serpentine/fan belt failed due to a faulty tensioner. It took 3 hours and 4 people to limp it 10km. Big coolant spill in the driveway, too, so I need to see how expensive this really will get.
![]() 11/12/2016 at 00:13 |
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The good news is you can probably buy a whole replacement 4.6 for around $25.
![]() 11/12/2016 at 00:17 |
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The engine’s internals are fine. Serpentine belt, tensioner, and a bunch of cooling stuff? Not so much.
![]() 11/12/2016 at 00:30 |
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This reminds me. I should keep tow straps in my car.
![]() 11/12/2016 at 00:36 |
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“Hey guys I have a great idea, let’s put all the engine accessories on the same belt? Good idea right...right...guys? Screw you guys. I’m doing it any way.” ~ the idiot that same up with serpentine belts.
![]() 11/12/2016 at 00:41 |
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I’m a serpentine optimist - I believe that it was created with good intentions, to run a few accessories, but the bean counters told them to make it run ALL the accessories to save money on belts.
![]() 11/12/2016 at 00:42 |
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I wish any of my friends had anything punchy enough to tow a Crown Vic.
![]() 11/12/2016 at 00:50 |
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My Mitsubishi basically does that actually. Both the Alt and Powersteering runn on one belt, the only other belt is for AC which makes sense as that was an option not even 4G63 car had.
But I really liked that my 99 Civic had separate belts for alternator and PS because when the PS belt started to fray I just cut it off, and went on my marry way,
![]() 11/12/2016 at 00:50 |
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But two combined? Nah, that’s probably a bad idea.....
![]() 11/12/2016 at 00:54 |
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Yeah.
![]() 11/12/2016 at 00:54 |
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Needless to say, next mod will be an electric pusher fan that can be activated via toggle switch.
![]() 11/12/2016 at 01:44 |
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Aluminum heads + iron block + overheat = I hope you’re right.
![]() 11/12/2016 at 05:45 |
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yeah, but the pusher fan doesnt do much without a water pump turning to move the water........
![]() 11/12/2016 at 05:51 |
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There are 4 belts (2 timing, 2 serpentine) on my 4G63 Galant wagon. Not a good thing at all, as it makes replacing that stuff more time consuming and more expensive. When one needs replacing you replace them all anyway, including tensioners. More parts to fail as well.
I strongly prefer the setup in my Peugeot 406 coupe from the same era. Half the belts, fewer moving parts,
cheaper
parts and longer service intervals. It’s also more frugal for the same amount of power/displacement and more reliable (n=1 for both) to boot.
![]() 11/12/2016 at 07:15 |
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The second smaller timing belt is a bear to replace
![]() 11/12/2016 at 10:36 |
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That belt runs the water pump too, hopefully all is well.
![]() 11/12/2016 at 10:59 |
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Right, the water pump’s via serpentine belt on the 4.6. The good news is that it’s not making any weird noises or anything, and I always shut the engine off while in the upper range of the safe zone on the scanner, so it should be okay.
![]() 11/12/2016 at 11:00 |
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The good news is that I always shut the engine off with the temp still in a safe range, and it’s not making any weird noises. No leaks, either, so I guess I’m probably okay.
![]() 11/12/2016 at 11:01 |
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The good news is that I never let it actually overheat. I just shut it down whenever the temp gauge was 3/4 of the way through it’s sweep.
![]() 11/12/2016 at 11:36 |
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Cars roll pretty easily. Doesn’t take a heck of a lot.
My dad once got my mom to come “tow” (I suspect actually push) his Chevy g20 with her ‘04 Impala two miles home. I also witnessed a Corsica towing a Sunfire which they claimed they’d just bought had a bad fuel pump... They claimed they’d done ten miles and knowing who the guy in the Corsica was, they probably had another 15 to go to get home.
But I would have found somewhere to park and replace the tensioner and belt. It’s not that big a job.
![]() 11/12/2016 at 12:03 |
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Yeah, I didn’t have another tensioner or belt, and the one friend who was available with a car has a somewhat fragile transmission.
![]() 11/12/2016 at 19:13 |
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yeah, im used to old junk, where you always keep a CLOSE eye on temps. 210 you get nervous, 220, youre getting out of traffic and looking for somewhere to stop. 230, and you better be shutting it down............. and cadillac northstar engines normal operating temp is 300........
![]() 11/12/2016 at 19:30 |
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I, too, keep a close eye on temp and oil pressure. Heat is the worst enemy of pretty much everything.