I have a 2001 RAM 1500 with a 5.2 engine. My AC compressor crapped out and makes a lot of noise. I can live w/o AC but need my truck. The drive belt routing diagram shows the belt routing with and w/o AC, so I bought a belt for w/o AC and finally got it installed. It was difficult to put on and the tensioner is all the way towards the driver side. I checked stores for different pulleys for with and w/o AC and there doesn't seem to be a difference except I can't be sure about the crankshaft pulley. Is there a reason this belt is on so tight and is it to tight? Yes. I double checked and it is the right belt. It's a Drive Rite belt 885K7 made by Dayco. Thanks for any help and apologize if this is a repeat thread.

 

Just get a belt thats a little longer.

 

you shouldn't need to change any pulley sizes....+1 longer belt.

 

its ok if the tensioner is all the way towards drivers side as long as the belt is not "too tight". the belt will stretch some over time.

 

I did the old fashion finger test I used to do on V belts on older vehicles where you tensioned by moving the alternator and there is some deflection that for those belts I would consider ok. Just not sure on serpentine belts.

 

tension concept/tightness/test is the same. the tensioner spring just does it automatically.

 

Hopefully there is a little play in the tensioner. It does not want to be tight up against it's travel towards the driver side. If so , I agree that the belt will stretch in time, but too tight is tight.

 

I have a 99 ram 5.2 and my AC clutch bearing went out when I was 200 miles from home. I tried the w/o AC belt but it was too short. Got a longer one to get me home.
DAYCO #5070900 also has # 7PK2285 on it and the box like thing it comes in. That go me home and I replaced the AC clutch with one from ebay about $100. I keep the DAYCO belt in truck as an emergency belt that will bypass the AC compressor. I understand the 85 in the second number is 85 inch length and the other numbers explain the number of ribs width an so on. I hope this helps you.

 

Thanks guys, There is a slight bit of play in the tensioner, but I think I will get the belt caripple used. The Autozone website says DAYCO #5070900 is a 90" belt. The one I have is 88.5 inches.

 

The non-AC bracket moves the idler pulley to a different spot than the AC bracket, so simply removing the AC compressor doesn't mean you can use the non-AC belt. You need a 89.5"-90.5" belt. Ask for a belt for a 2010 Tacoma 2.7L with AC to get a 7 rib 90" belt.