'06 Fan Belt Change

[DennyDay]

Has anyone come up with an easy way to change the fanbelt on an '06 5,9?



Replace mine and two of us (both experienced mechanics) screwed around with it for over an hour. There has to be a trick, 'cause I can't imagine TDR members willing to pay shop time along with the belt cost would end up costing well over $100. #@$%!



Denny

 

[RBradley]

Belt change

I just changed mine last week. I added a Jake brake and had to replace the belt with a longer one. It went on easily with two people. I temporarily placed it over the top pulleys. Since the back of the belt rides on the fan pulley, you don't have to slip it over the fan blade. I slipped the belt down, with part of the belt on both sides of the fan pulley. I threaded the belt on the passenger side first slipping it over the pulley on the left, then around the tensioner pulley -- It was a tight fit around the tensioner with it in its retracted position. I then removed the belt from the drivers side top pulley to give additional length. Placed it on the engine pulley. Then the other end from the fan pulley to the pulley on the bottom drivers side. I borrowed a serpentine belt installation tool from AutoZone for a $25 deposit. In the kit there is a flat bar with a 1/2 inch square that mates with the tensioner. The other end of the bar fits a 3/8 breaker bar. Using these tools with one person under the ending pulling on the tensioner releases enough slack to easily slip the belt over the remaining pulley on the top of the engine.



Hope this helps,



Bob

 

[Bob4x4]

I just changed mine last week. I added a Jake brake and had to replace the belt with a longer one. It went on easily with two people. I temporarily placed it over the top pulleys. Since the back of the belt rides on the fan pulley, you don't have to slip it over the fan blade. I slipped the belt down, with part of the belt on both sides of the fan pulley. I threaded the belt on the passenger side first slipping it over the pulley on the left, then around the tensioner pulley -- It was a tight fit around the tensioner with it in its retracted position. I then removed the belt from the drivers side top pulley to give additional length. Placed it on the engine pulley. Then the other end from the fan pulley to the pulley on the bottom drivers side. I borrowed a serpentine belt installation tool from AutoZone for a $25 deposit. In the kit there is a flat bar with a 1/2 inch square that mates with the tensioner. The other end of the bar fits a 3/8 breaker bar. Using these tools with one person under the ending pulling on the tensioner releases enough slack to easily slip the belt over the remaining pulley on the top of the engine.



Hope this helps,



Bob

:-laf You spent way more than an hour... ..... and still had to pay for fuel to and from the tool rental

 

[JHardwick]

1/2" breaker bar and 10 minutes tops ... ... ... ... .

 

[InfernoB]

Best thing to do is copy the belt wrap. and then trace it with your mind... ... ...

Here's what I cary in my truck.

"experienced mechanics" I know exactly what you mean. I walked away, and came back and it fell into place.

 

[DennyDay]

Thanks All - - I'm so used to having to go over the fan, thats where I got stuck. Now that I thinking straight, it's fairly simple- - - should have asked -- RBradley, we were doin' the same thing installing a Jake Brake, and additional problem I had - - the Great 5 Star idiots sent me the wrong kit, the ony problem was the wiring harness, after 3 phone calls to the dealer resulting in absolutely no help, I finally called Jacobs Engineering, and they came through and got the correct harness from them.



Again, Thanks for all the help - -



Denny

 

[Bob4x4]

1/2" breaker bar and 10 minutes tops ... ... ... ... .

That is easy enough on an 03... ... ... . 06 is different.

 

[RBradley]

Belt change

I have an 06- It took me less than 20 minutes and if I had to do it again, I think I could do it in 10 minutes. I think the adapter bar from AutoZone made the job easier. I don't know if the angles are right getting a 1/2 breaker bar on the tensioner and being to get enough swing to give enough play in the belt. With the adapter bar, the 3/8 inch breaker is attached to it at an angle-- 135 degrees rather than straight - 180 degrees. As to a special trip to AutoZone---- I was buying oil for my other vehicle and noticed a mat on the counter that indicated that they had those tools for loan.



Bob

 

[MMeier]

That is easy enough on an 03... ... ... . 06 is different.

Whats different?

 

[MCummings]

Yah.



I wanna know.



I can do an '06 in like 2 minutes.



What I've learned is to do it as quickly as possible so that the "picture" of how the belt was routed doesn't fade from memory...



Sucks when you forget which way the belt goes, on top or bottom of the fan, and you "squeeze" the belt around the fan, then figure out it goes the other way, LOL.



Merrick

 

[vinconco]

Here is a couple pages out of the 06 FSM

 

[MrBee]

I used a 1/2" long handled ratchet and added a 24" cheater bar. Not for additional leverage but it allowed me to get access to it. I take short strips of duct tape and tape the belt to the lower pulleys then it is a piece of cake by yourself. Just remember to take the tape off before you start.