Accessory Drive Belt - Seating Procedure: Overview

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ACCESSORY DRIVE BELT - TENSION SETTING PROCEDURE FOR ENGINES WITHOUT AUTOMATIC BELT TENSIONERS

NOISE - ACCESSORY DRIVE BELT "SQUEAL" - ENGINES WITHOUT AUTOMATIC BELT TENSIONERS
Article No. 88-7-9
FORD: 1987-88 TEMPO 1988 ESCORT, TAURUS, CROWN VICTORIA

LINCOLN-MERCURY: 1987-88 TOPAZ 1988 SABLE, GRAND MARQUIS, LINCOLN TOWN CAR
ISSUE: Accessory drive belts that are replaced or reinstalled after servicing the vehicle must be properly seated into the pulley grooves. The accessory drive belts on vehicles without automatic tensioners do not completely seat in the pulley grooves until after the engine has run for several minutes. After the accessory drive belt is seated, it will be necessary to reset the belt tension because the initial bell tension may fall below the specified tension range which could result in higher than normal belt wear or belt "squeal".

ACTION: To make sure that the accessory drive belt is properly seated in the pulley grooves and properly tensioned, reset the belt tension after the engine has been run for five (5) minutes. Refer to the following service procedure. When checking belt tension, take tension readings in the mid-span of belt between the pulleys, not on spliced sections of the belt. Use the same belt area when rechecking belt tension.

NOTE: The accessory drive belt must be kept seated in the pulley grooves. Do not allow the belt to relax while resetting the belt tension. If the belt does unseat from any pulley during the tension resetting procedure, the procedure will have to be repeated.