94 Dodge Ram 1500 4x4 w/5.9L a/c & no air pump. This truck is killing me. I bought it used 3 years ago. About 3 months ago I had to replace the radiator. While I was there I decided to replace the serpentine belt. All was good. Then about a month later the new belt started to shred (the new belt was off tracking).
So thinking I may have damaged the new belt when I installed it. I put a new belt on. Another month goes by & again this belt shreds.
So today I replaced the belt along with a new tensioner (ncase the tensioner is no good). But I can still see the new belt tracks forward a little on the harmonic pulley.
Any ideas why this is off tracking?
Thanks
Bob

 

Does it squeal at at when you first start it? My idler pulley bearing went on my ram and since it was wearing, it offset the belt and ran it onto my a/c pump. Just a thought, but might as well check it out. Good Luck with it!

 

This is a long shot but, make sure that the auto parts store gave you a belt with 7 grooves only. I know the Ram v-10's, and CTD's, have 8 groove pulleys. I found out the same way as you. I lost belets cause my new alternator was a 7 groove pully, not 8. I lost 3 belts in 2 weeks time. I was not as smart then obviously.....LOL.


Good luck.

 

do any of your pulleys wobble?

 

7 ribs it is. If your tension pully bearing or idle pully bearing is going. Don't wast $40.00 @ Mopar you can replace the bearing for under $5.00 with a hammer, block of wood and only, i mean only a large socket that fits the outter race of the bearing. I have to tell you this no brainer. I made some changes to my pully set up and I have a powerdyne supercharger installed. THe belt supplied by Powerdyne is just a tad short. I found a replacement belt the correct lengh but, it was eight ribs. Here's what the un names high performace supercharger shop told me to do. Cut one of the ribs off the $70.00 belt to make it fit............Ya right Gommer! I did find the right belt after looing. Tension is critical on the 5.9 There are limits on the tesnsion arm (a pre load). Good luck

 

Always buy a belt with the lifetime warranty. I had my idler pulley too tight when I first started my engine and it did a number on the belt. Took it back and my boy at the store hooked me up (with the receipt, of course).