Let's play a game...with belts and pulleys

[Sparkyy]

About 2 weeks ago, my truck exhibited some issues just as I was coming back to my apartment. Opened the hood and saw pieces of belt on the engine, figured that was the incorrect place for my belt to even be at let alone having pieces.

Got new tensioner pulley, two idler pulleys and of course a new serpentine belt.


Now the game, can anyone tell me what is wrong with these two pulleys? Yes, they are both old and they both came off at the same time.



Bonus question, kind of hard to see but this was the belt I replaced.



If you were able to guess the pulley is missing in the first picture, congratulations!

If you were able to guess the belt missing chunks out of it for the bonus question, you were on your A game today!



Wasn't bad though, did the entire job in an hour, 30 mins for the pulleys to be removed and new ones put on. Then another 30 mins to work on the serpentine belt, probably could have gone quicker had I had a second pair of hands to hold the flashlight.

 

[Gecko]

This happened to my belt back in the summer



I ended up replacing the belt, both idler pulleys and my tensioner. What happened was I somehow managed to lose and idler pulley. Yes, I lost it. It just wasn't there when I went to find the problem. I only had one idler pulley. I'm guessing that it actually cracked in half and fell off. Haha oh well, problems fixed now!

 

[Gecko]

Somehow it posted twice... -_-

 

[MegaMouseGW]

Did not know that dodge truck ate belts for lunch.

 

[Sparkyy]

Haha clearly Rams get hungry as well since it seems Gecko and I both had the exact same issue.

It's an easy and relative cheap fix to do but it just sucks when it does happen. Can't believe the pulley just disappeared on both of our truck.

 

[MegaMouseGW]

Sounds like I might need to check my daughters truck (it has the original 4.7l) and my truck's belts. Definitely do not want to have that happen to me. Wife has a new motor so I am not gona worry too much about her truck (still for the love of me why does she not check the oil?????)

 

[Sparkyy]

Yeah, I would check the pulleys and tensioner pulley. All total with shipping, it was $163 to change out all those parts I listed. Did it myself so wasn't bad at all.

Simple thing to prevent your truck from chowing down on a belt.

 

[ST-8]

Holy **** Gecko that's just a nasty mess!

 

[RonJon '06]

I think I'll replace mine too. I have greased them a couple times but they don't sound very healthy.

 

[Sparkyy]

The tensioner pulley was just shot to hell. The pulley spun so freely on that thing but the new one barely budged so got it all done.

Next up is the water pump, this summer, if we get one...

 

[MegaMouseGW]

The tensioner pulley was just shot to hell. The pulley spun so freely on that thing but the new one barely budged so got it all done.

Next up is the water pump, this summer, if we get one...

Whats summer????

 

[LS5DodgeRam]

how did you intially find out you had a problem? did the belts start to squeak? because my belt is starting to squeak and i really dont want that to happen lmao

 

[Sparkyy]

I found out because my truck sounded very funny and opened the hood and saw pieces all over the engine bay.

Looked down and saw I had no more pulley on the lower section so that was my indicator.

Though when I went in last time for an oil change at the dealer, they said they heard some noise that was extremely faint. Said either my tensioner pulley or water pump was going out.

 

[kaiboy]

re parts

might be in the same boat and will probably need the same parts-just wondering where you got the stuff as I cannot seem to find the OEM parts for $163.

thx Paul

 

[Sparkyy]

might be in the same boat and will probably need the same parts-just wondering where you got the stuff as I cannot seem to find the OEM parts for $163.

thx Paul

Paul, once I get back home, which will probably be late, I will message you the part list I used.

 

[Gecko]

Holy **** Gecko that's just a nasty mess!

Yea it was fun to remove. I had to get a box cutter to cut through it all just to get it all removed.


As for the parts, you should be able to get them for less than that. I know I did. Just go to your local auto parts store for the tensioner and belt. I had to get the idler pulleys from the dealer though. I think the tensioner is the most expensive part at around $40.

I first noticed I had a problem when I was getting an extremely high whining/squealing sound.

And Sparky I think it was my lower pulley that went missing as well.

 

[LS5DodgeRam]

I have a 4.7l engine, do you think it is the same pulley setup as the hemi? I'm not sure the differences I haven't really paid attention since I never really had to.

 

[Gecko]

It's not the same set up. At least in order of how you put the belt on over the pulleys

 

[Sparkyy]

Not sure why that lower pulley gets so abused that it just gives up on life and disappears.

I got all my parts OEM but for a lot cheaper then the dealership wanted, I believe their quote was $265 for the parts.

I was told it was either water pump or pulley that was making a barely audible noise and sounded like it needed to be replaced.

 

[Sparkyy]

I have a 4.7l engine, do you think it is the same pulley setup as the hemi? I'm not sure the differences I haven't really paid attention since I never really had to.

Looks like you only need 1 idler pulley as opposed to the Hemi having 2 idler pulleys.

2004 Dodge Ram 1500 SLT 4.7L

Just a comparison
5.7L Hemi