You spent hours polishing and waxing your 1996 Ford Mustang for the cruise-in down the road, certain that you were going to win "Best in Show." You never made it to the show because on your way the power steering went limp and your engine died within a matter of minutes. Checking your serpentine drive-belt could have helped you avoid this situation. If your drive-belt has more than one crack within a 1/2-inch segment, then it is time to replace the belt. The 1996 Mustang was equipped with a 3.8-liter V-6, or an optional 4.6-liter V-8 engine.
Instructions
- 1
Open the hood on the Mustang, and set the hood prop. Find the belt-routing diagram under the hood. If it is missing or illegible, draw one, take a reference photo, or refer to the diagrams in the "Resources" section of the article.
Insert a 3/8 inch-drive ratchet into the square notch provided in the belt tensioner assembly. Rotate the tensioner to release the tension on the drive belt. The belt tensioner rotates counterclockwise on a the V-6 engine, and clockwise on the V-8 engine.
Remove the belt from the alternator pulley, then slowly release the tensioner back to its resting position. Remove the belt from the engine. Install the new belt using the belt routing diagram. Route the belt so that the alternator is the final pulley you need to install the belt on.
3Rotate the tensioner assembly to give the belt enough slack, to install the belt on the alternator pulley. Release the tensioner slowly. Inspect the routing of your belt to make sure it is centered on every engine pulley.
