Serpentine Belt

This procedure covers the removal and replacement of the serpentine drive belt on a 2011-2014 Ford F-150 with the 5.0L Coyote V8 engine.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Serpentine belt × 1 — Motorcraft 6K1916 or equivalent 6-rib belt

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level ground and apply parking brake
2. Allow engine to cool for at least 30 minutes if recently operated
3. Photograph or sketch the belt routing pattern before removal for reference
4. Ensure adequate lighting and access to the front of the engine bay

Procedure

1. 1

   Access the serpentine belt
   Open the hood and locate the serpentine belt on the front of the engine. The belt routes around the crankshaft pulley, water pump, AC compressor, alternator, power steering pump, and idler pulleys. Verify the belt routing matches the diagram on the fan shroud.
2. 2

   Locate the automatic belt tensioner
   Identify the spring-loaded automatic belt tensioner assembly on the passenger side of the engine. The tensioner has a 3/8" square drive socket in the center of the arm for a ratchet or breaker bar.
3. 3

   Release belt tension
   Insert a 3/8" drive ratchet or breaker bar into the square drive opening on the tensioner arm. Rotate the tensioner clockwise (toward the passenger side) to relieve tension on the belt. The tensioner will move approximately 90 degrees.
4. 4

   Remove the serpentine 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 the remaining pulleys and extract it from the engine bay.
5. 5

   Inspect pulleys and tensioner
   With the belt removed, inspect all pulleys for damage, roughness, or bearing noise by spinning them by hand. Check the tensioner arm for smooth operation and proper spring tension. Inspect the idler pulley for wobble or noise. Replace any worn components before installing the new belt.
   Torque spec

   Idler Pulley Bolt45 Nm (33 lb-ft)

   Belt Tensioner Bolt55 Nm (41 lb-ft)
6. 6

   Route the new belt
   Begin routing the new serpentine belt by starting at the crankshaft pulley at the bottom. Follow your reference photo or the belt routing diagram, threading the belt around each pulley in the correct sequence. Leave the tensioner pulley for last to allow easier installation.
7. 7

   Install belt onto tensioner pulley
   Insert the ratchet or breaker bar into the tensioner and rotate it clockwise to relieve tension. Position the belt over the tensioner pulley, ensuring it is properly seated in all pulley grooves. Slowly release the tensioner to apply proper tension to the belt.
8. 8

   Verify belt alignment and routing
   Visually inspect the belt on all pulleys to ensure it is centered in each pulley groove and properly seated. The belt ribs should align perfectly with the pulley grooves. Double-check the routing against the diagram to confirm correct installation.
9. 9

   Rotate engine by hand
   Using an 18mm socket on the crankshaft bolt, manually rotate the engine two complete revolutions in the normal direction of rotation (clockwise from the front). Observe the belt to ensure it tracks properly on all pulleys and does not slip off.

Reassembly

1. Close the hood after confirming all tools have been removed from the engine bay
2. No disassembly was required for this procedure beyond belt removal

Verification

• Start the engine and listen for any unusual squealing, chirping, or rattling noises from the belt area
• Observe the belt at idle for proper tracking and tension - it should not flutter or vibrate excessively
• Rev the engine slightly and verify the belt remains properly seated on all pulleys
• Recheck belt routing visually against the diagram to confirm correct installation
• Test all belt-driven accessories (AC, power steering, alternator) for proper operation

More procedures for this vehicle