This procedure covers the removal and replacement of the serpentine belt on the 2011-2014 Ford F-150 with the 3.5L V6 EcoBoost engine.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Serpentine belt × 1 — Use OEM specification or Gates K060965

Preparation

1. Ensure engine is completely cool to the touch
2. Take a clear photograph of the belt routing diagram on the fan shroud or under the hood for reference
3. Verify replacement belt matches the correct part number for your specific F-150 configuration

Procedure

1. 1

   Access the serpentine belt
   Open the hood and locate the serpentine belt at the front of the engine. On the 3.5L EcoBoost, the belt is accessed from the top of the engine compartment. Identify the belt tensioner assembly on the driver's side of the engine.
2. 2

   Document belt routing
   Verify the belt routing matches the diagram under the hood. If the diagram is missing or unclear, sketch or photograph the current belt path around all pulleys including the crankshaft, alternator, water pump, A/C compressor, power steering pump, and idler pulleys.
3. 3

   Release belt tension
   Locate the 3/8" square drive socket on the belt tensioner. Insert a 3/8" breaker bar or serpentine belt tool into the tensioner socket. Rotate the tensioner clockwise (toward the passenger side) to release tension on the belt. The tensioner will move approximately 90 degrees.
4. 4

   Remove the old belt
   While holding the tensioner in the released position, slip the belt off the nearest pulley (typically the alternator or idler pulley). Carefully release the tensioner back to its resting position. Remove the belt from all remaining pulleys and extract it from the engine bay.
5. 5

   Inspect tensioner and pulleys
   With the belt removed, manually spin each pulley to check for bearing noise, roughness, or excessive play. Check the tensioner arm for smooth movement and proper spring tension. Inspect the belt tensioner pulley surface for wear, cracks, or glazing. Replace any defective components before installing the new belt.
6. 6

   Route the new belt
   Beginning with the crankshaft pulley at the bottom, route the new serpentine belt around all pulleys according to the routing diagram, leaving the belt off one pulley (typically the alternator or an upper pulley) to allow for tensioner release. Ensure the belt ribs are properly seated in all pulley grooves.
7. 7

   Install belt with tensioner
   Using the breaker bar, rotate the belt tensioner clockwise again to release tension. While holding the tensioner, slip the belt onto the final pulley, ensuring it is properly seated in the grooves. Slowly release the tensioner to apply proper tension to the belt.
8. 8

   Verify belt installation
   Visually inspect all pulleys to confirm the belt is properly seated in all grooves with no misalignment. Check that the belt is not twisted anywhere along its path. Manually rotate the crankshaft one full revolution (clockwise from the front) using a socket on the crankshaft bolt to verify the belt tracks correctly and does not slip off any pulley.

Reassembly

1. No reassembly required for this procedure - belt replacement is a standalone operation

Verification

• Start the engine and listen for any unusual squealing or chirping noises that would indicate belt misalignment or improper tension
• Observe the belt while the engine is running to ensure it tracks smoothly on all pulleys without walking off or showing excessive flutter
• Turn on electrical accessories (A/C, headlights, radio) to load the alternator and verify the belt does not slip under load
• After the first 100 miles of driving, visually recheck belt condition and seating on all pulleys

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