- Replacement Serpentine Belt
- 3/8 inch Drive Ratchet
- 15 mm Socket
- Breaker Bar (Optional)
- Replacement Tensioner Pulley (Optional)
Instructions:
1. Lift the Hood and Locate Serpentine Belt:
- Open the hood of the 1989 Ford Thunderbird 3.8L and secure it with the hood prop.
2. Remove the Old Serpentine Belt:
- Locate the serpentine belt, which runs around all the accessory pulleys at the front of the engine.
- Slide the 15 mm socket onto the tensioner pulley bolt, which is located on the left side of the engine near the top. The head of this bolt is perpendicular to the belt.
- Use the breaker bar or ratchet to turn the tensioner pulley bolt clockwise until the tension is released and the belt is loose.
- Once the belt is loose, remove the socket from the tensioner pulley bolt.
- Carefully remove the old serpentine belt by lifting it off all of the pulleys.
3. Replace Tensioner Pulley (Optional):
- If you are also replacing the tensioner pulley, insert the ratchet and extension into the square-shaped hole on the backside of the tensioner pulley.
- Turn the ratchet counter-clockwise to release tension on the tensioner.
- Slide the belt off of the tensioner pulley.
- Remove the mounting bolt using a ratchet and 15 mm socket.
- Position the new tensioner pulley and replace the mounting bolt.
- Install the serpentine belt around the pulley and tension it by turning the ratchet clockwise.
4. Install New Serpentine Belt:
- Place the new serpentine belt around all of the pulleys, making sure that it is properly seated in each pulley's groove.
- Refer to the belt routing diagram (usually located under the hood or in your owner's manual) if needed.
5. Tension the Serpentine Belt:
- Use the socket and breaker bar or ratchet on the tensioner pulley bolt to turn the tensioner clockwise until the belt is properly tensioned.
- Refer to the owner's manual for specific tension specifications for your vehicle.
6. Start the Engine::
- Start the engine momentarily and check once again to make sure that the serpentine belt is properly seated in all the pulleys.
7. Final Check::
- Turn off the engine and re-check the tension on the serpentine belt. Make adjustments if necessary.
Note: If the serpentine belt is extremely loose or worn out, it may have damaged the tensioner pulley or other components. Inspect these carefully and replace if needed.
