i have a 2002 dodge ram 4.7 1500 2wd. the problems im having are should i be able to pull up on the belt tensionor by hand without any tools. and second problem is truck does have good heat and new tempature sending unit new thermistat new fluid and whats happening is when im driving the temp gauge stays around the cold area and eventualy gets up to operating mark on the gauge and when i shut motor of and come back 5-10 min later the gauge reads lil ways past middle mark on gauge i have people tell me radiator may be partcially blocked plz any ideas on this would help thanks

 

First off, maybe you could take the belt off by hand, but it's a lot easier with a ratchet.
Second, check all of your radiator hoses and coolant levels. Maybe you need a new thermostat also. just check the cooling system part by part.

 

im saying with the belt on i can pull up on the tensionor by hand with lil efort im trying to determine if the tensionor is going bad.

 

No, this does not indicate a problem. It's perfectly normal.

What you're seeing on the gauge is just residual heat in the engine. When you shut off the engine the coolant stops circulating, so the energy in the iron isn't being drawn away to the radiator to be dissipated. Instead, convection currents in the coolant carry that heat upward, to the thermostat housing and the temperature sensor.

No worries!

 

ok that makes since but this the first truck to do this to me so i was just wondering

 

i dont see a problem with it. i have a friend with the same truck and his does that.

now as far as the belt tensioner. it may need replacing as it is not suppose to be that easy. i used a ratchet on my friends truck.

 

yeah well im replacing it today after work and the belt hopefully this will take care of the problem if not next step maybe radiator and if not that water pump lol

 

Sounds like you already got the help you need, but technically a 2002 4.7L V8 Ram 1500 is a 3rd Generation truck (2002-2008). I will go ahead and move it over there for you.

 

Yep, looks all resolved to me too!

 

If your truck's not overheating I'd leave the cooling system alone. Coolant flush never hurts though!
If your belt doesn't squeak on startup I'd leave it alone too, check the belt for burn marks or slipping.
Maybe I'm just a cheap *** haha