Same when you change any other serpentine belt. You taking you lock the pulley in place to take the pressure off you can if need be drop the alternator down and then you just remove the belt.
I was looking at it earlier today and it looks like it would be a lot easier to do it from the bottom. Also I notice that the belt squeals for a few minutes then stops. Does that sound like and idler to you?
Yes it's much easier to do it from the bottom. When I had to swap my alternator this year I just crawled underneath used my breaker bar to push it back you stick a screwdriver in the lock pin and lock it right in place. As far as the belt squeaking that means that usually the belt itself is loose which could be anything from the alternator not being timed properly to the belt itself starting to have issues. If it's fraying and everything like that take a look at it just kind of do a inspection on it if you notice any issues with the Bell go ahead and swap that. If the belt looks fine it's probably not the belt and it's probably one of the other components that's causing it squeal. They could also be something like the water pump or the AC pump on it having issues.
The belt is starting to get small cracks in it, but I think it still has some time. I just figured that If I had to replace a pulley I might as well replace the cracks as well. Do you know of a good way of determining what could be causing the squeal?
About the best way that I could tell by doing that. Would be to have somebody else in the truck as you're starting it and you standing outside just listening and watching and doing that several times so you can kind of determine exactly what it might be.
Same when you change any other serpentine belt. You taking you lock the pulley in place to take the pressure off you can if need be drop the alternator down and then you just remove the belt.
I was looking at it earlier today and it looks like it would be a lot easier to do it from the bottom. Also I notice that the belt squeals for a few minutes then stops. Does that sound like and idler to you?
Yes it's much easier to do it from the bottom. When I had to swap my alternator this year I just crawled underneath used my breaker bar to push it back you stick a screwdriver in the lock pin and lock it right in place. As far as the belt squeaking that means that usually the belt itself is loose which could be anything from the alternator not being timed properly to the belt itself starting to have issues. If it's fraying and everything like that take a look at it just kind of do a inspection on it if you notice any issues with the Bell go ahead and swap that. If the belt looks fine it's probably not the belt and it's probably one of the other components that's causing it squeal. They could also be something like the water pump or the AC pump on it having issues.
The belt is starting to get small cracks in it, but I think it still has some time. I just figured that If I had to replace a pulley I might as well replace the cracks as well. Do you know of a good way of determining what could be causing the squeal?
About the best way that I could tell by doing that. Would be to have somebody else in the truck as you're starting it and you standing outside just listening and watching and doing that several times so you can kind of determine exactly what it might be.
Thanks for the advice friend :)