What's eating my serpentine belts?

Jun 03, 2007 6 Replies

Looking for some help with a "s" belt problem. Had one break, replaced it, got about 3 miles down the road and the new one self-destructed.



Truck is a 1998 Silverado 4x4 w/the 5.0L fi engine. I know IO had the right replacement belt and I double checked the routing against the routing diagram on the radiator shroud, all looked good. No problem with the tensioner, working as it should.



Wondering about the very top "wheel." If you look straight on at the engine at the verfy top the belt runs under what just looks like soem kind of round guide. But it doesn't spin or flex. Not sure what it's purpose is but the belt aas running tight up against it. Shouldn't this have been spinning as well? Otherwise it was just a big friction poin that could be the point of failure. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!



Mike



Cross posted.



Your belt shouldn't touch any non-spinning surface.

It's an idler pulley and its supposed to spin freely

Whitelightning

Some sort of "round guide" that doesn't spin or flex = frozen idler wheel.

That's just a stop to keep it from flapping around too crazily at certain speeds but it should hardly ever actually touch it. If your belt is solid against it then you are not routing the belt correctly.

Sounds like a seized idler pulley. That "wheel" should spin freely.

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