1999 Ford Contour Belt Won't Install

FORD CONTOUR
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904VILLE
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I changed the alternator on a 1999 Ford Contour (88,989) (4cyl), and now I can’t get the belt back on the car. What’s the secret to reinstalling the belt? Please help…
Dec 20, 2006 at 4:53 AM
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BRUCE HUNT
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That should be a serpentine belt. That belt covers all pulleys in the car, right? If so, there is an idler pulley and tensioner somewhere midway on the belt pattern. The tensioner is spring loaded and you can open it with a wrench or socket. Rotate the tensioner, slip the belt on and relax the tensioner on to the belt.
Dec 20, 2006 at 5:00 AM
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904VILLE
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[quote:0569a577dc="Bruce Hunt"]That should be a serpentine belt. That belt covers all pulleys in the car, right? If so, there is an idler pulley and tensioner somewhere midway on the belt pattern. The tensioner is spring loaded and you can open it with a wrench or socket. Rotate the tensioner, slip the belt on and relax the tensioner on to the belt.[/quote:0569a577dc]
Dec 20, 2006 at 6:21 AM
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Suggested Repair

Treat it as a serpentine belt. Locate the spring-loaded tensioner midway in the belt path, rotate it with a wrench or socket to relieve tension, slip the belt onto the pulleys, then slowly release the tensioner onto the belt.

Conversation Summary

After replacing the alternator on a 1999 Ford Contour 4-cylinder, the owner could not get the drive belt back on. The expert said it should be a serpentine belt covering the pulleys, with a spring-loaded idler/tensioner that is rotated with a wrench or socket so the belt can be slipped on and then tensioned.

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