Ford D9PZ-8620-G V-Belt

Drive belts stretch and deteriorate over time due to their composition and exposure to high stresses.

A glazed belt will be perfectly smooth from slippage.

When replacing drive belts, they should be slipped off pulleys, and for V-ribbed belts, proper engagement into pulley grooves should be ensured during installation.

The condition of drivebelts can be checked by looking for cracks, separation of belt plies, fraying, and glazing. For serpentine belts, the ribs on the underside of the belt should also be checked.

The tension of drivebelts in earlier models is checked by pushing on the belt at a distance halfway between the pulleys.

To replace the belt, lift the tensioner at the bolt. The tensioner will swing down once the tension of the belt is released. Remove the belt from the auxiliary components and carefully release the tensioner. Route the new belt over the various pulleys, again rotating the tensioner to allow the belt to be installed, then release the belt tensioner. Ensure the belt fits properly into the pulley grooves - it must be completely engaged. Most models have a drivebelt routing decal on the upper radiator panel to help during drivebelt installation.

In later models, automatic tensioners are used to adjust belt tension. However, for some V-belts and early serpentine belts, manual adjustments are required.

With the engine off, open the hood and locate the various belts at the front of the engine. Using your fingers, move along the belts checking for cracks, separation, fraying, and glazing.

Drivebelts play a crucial role in the operation of the vehicle and its components.

The tension of the belt is checked visually. Locate the belt tensioner at the front of the engine on the right (passenger) side, adjacent to the lower crankshaft pulley, then find the tensioner operating marks. If the indicator mark is outside the operating range, the belt should be replaced.