Serpentine Belt

This procedure covers the removal and replacement of the serpentine belt on the 2015-2020 Ford F-150 with the 5.0L Coyote V8 engine, including belt routing verification and tensioner inspection.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Serpentine belt × 1 — Gates K060950 or Motorcraft OEM

Preparation

1. Ensure engine is cool to the touch
2. Park vehicle on level ground and engage parking brake
3. Disconnect negative battery terminal to prevent accidental starter engagement
4. Locate the belt routing diagram on the fan shroud or under the hood; photograph it for reference if present

Procedure

1. 1

   Access the serpentine belt
   Open the hood and secure with the prop rod. Visually locate the serpentine belt at the front of the engine. The 5.0L Coyote has the belt tensioner on the passenger side of the engine block, with the belt routing around the alternator, water pump, A/C compressor, power steering pump, and crankshaft pulleys.
2. 2

   Document belt routing
   Before removal, take a clear photograph of the current belt routing from multiple angles. If the underhood belt routing diagram is missing or unclear, sketch the path of the belt around each pulley. Note that the belt does not contact the center smooth idler pulley in normal configuration on some models.
3. 3

   Locate the belt tensioner
   Identify the automatic spring-loaded belt tensioner on the passenger side lower front of the engine. The tensioner has a 15mm hex fitting in the center of the pulley arm for rotation. Confirm clear access to this fitting with your breaker bar or belt tool.
4. 4

   Release belt tension
   Insert a 15mm socket on a 3/8" ratchet or breaker bar into the tensioner arm fitting. Rotate the tensioner clockwise (toward the passenger side) to relieve tension on the belt. The tensioner will move approximately 90 degrees. This requires moderate force but should move smoothly without binding.
   ⚠Maintain firm control of the tool while rotating the tensioner. If you release suddenly, the spring tension can cause the tool to kick back or damage components.
5. 5

   Remove the serpentine belt
   While holding the tensioner in the released position, slip the belt off the alternator pulley or the nearest accessible pulley. Slowly release the tensioner back to its resting position. Remove the belt from all remaining pulleys and extract it from the engine bay.
6. 6

   Inspect components
   With the belt removed, manually spin each pulley including the tensioner pulley and the smooth idler pulley. Check for rough bearing rotation, excessive play, or noise. Inspect the tensioner arm for smooth spring action and proper return to rest position. Check all pulleys for groove wear or damage.
7. 7

   Inspect the old belt
   Examine the removed belt for cracks on the ribbed side, glazing, fraying, missing chunks, oil contamination, or uneven wear. Measure belt width to confirm proper replacement part. If the belt shows oil contamination, identify and repair the source before installing the new belt.
8. 8

   Route the new serpentine belt
   Following your photograph or the underhood diagram, begin routing the new belt starting from the crankshaft pulley at the bottom center of the engine. Work around the lower pulleys first (A/C compressor, water pump), then route up and around the power steering pump and alternator. Leave the tensioner pulley for last.
9. 9

   Install belt onto tensioner
   With the belt positioned on all other pulleys, use your 15mm socket and breaker bar to rotate the tensioner clockwise again. While holding the tensioner in the released position, slip the belt over the tensioner pulley. Ensure the belt is properly seated in all pulley grooves, then slowly release the tensioner to apply proper tension to the belt.
10. 10

    Verify belt alignment
    Visually inspect each pulley to confirm the belt ribs are fully seated in each groove and the belt runs straight without twisting. The belt should be centered on each pulley with no overhang on either edge. Check that the smooth backside of the belt contacts the tensioner pulley and any idler pulleys correctly.

Reassembly

1. Reconnect the negative battery terminal
2. Close the hood and ensure it is securely latched

Verification

• Start the engine and observe the belt operation from a safe distance with the hood open
• Listen for any squealing, chirping, or unusual noises that would indicate misalignment or improper tension
• Verify the belt tracks smoothly on all pulleys without wobbling or jumping
• Turn on accessories (A/C, headlights) to load the alternator and verify proper belt operation under load
• Shut off the engine and perform a final visual inspection to confirm the belt remains properly seated on all pulleys

More procedures for this vehicle