Serpentine Belt Tensioner Beware

[banshee]

I wanted to give everyone a heads up to check out your serpentine belt tensioner on the front of the motor. Mine broke off last night:{ after leaving a stop light. I noticed the brakes were spongey at the next stop, and I lost power steering. After coasting to a stop with the truck running (thinking I broke/threw the belt) I looked down and saw the water temp skyrocketing, so I shut her down and popped the hood. I was shocked to see the thick belt tensioner pulley was gone, and only the jagged section of the bracket remained. I found it on the road, and sure enough it had snapped clean in half. Luckily TDR/DTR members John_P, Crud (Papa_Smurf), and Goodys1ton were with me to help out, get a trailer, and get the truck towed home... Thanks guys!!!!. Everyone might want to check this bracket for cracks. If it breaks you'll be quickly stranded without power steering, brakes, an alternator, fan, water pump, and air conditioning.



John

 

[EEngel]

Snaped bracket

banshee,



Thanx for the warning.



Sorry to hear that you had the problem, lucky you had some good help.

 

[phoekema]

This happened to another couple we were traveling with a couple years ago. It's amazing how fast the temp went up. He was pulling a 5th wheel in hot weather, which explains the almost instant overheating. When I look at that area under the hood, I was surprised no radiator damage resulted. Sounds like you lucked out in this area too. Wouldn't take much for that thing to get embedded in the radiator!

Curious how often this has broken for others... ... ... . yours is the only other case I have heard of so far. I won a bet with my friend, betting the part was made by Dodge, not Cummins.

 

[XcumminsX]

is there any aftermarket tensioner available? my truck is apart right now and its a perfect time to get that taken care of. .



Nick

 

[llotton]

Banshee, there is a company that has the pully, it can be found at www.plugitright.com Good luck. Larry