How do you loosen the serpentine belt on a 1994 Aerostar van?

Answer 1

You will need to go to Autozone and borrow or buy a tensioner wrench The tensioner wrench fits on to the faceplate nut on the tensioner pully The tensioner wrench is simply pulled clockwise and this releases the tension on the spring-loaded pully and the serpentine belt is then removed with the pressure constantly applied to the tensioner pully so it allows the serpentine belt to be relaxed There is a schematic on the upper inside hood that shows how the serpentine belt is "threaded" through the engine/smogpump/a/c compresser/water pump pully

On the 4.0L engine, you can also do this with an appropriate sized socket (around 5/8, I think) and a breaker bar. Turn the center bolt of the idler pulley COUNTER CLOCKWISE about 1/6 to 1/4 turn, then carefully reach under and behind the pulley to locate the retainer latch (it is a flat piece of spring steel, out of sight on the lower right side behind the idler pulley when facing the engine from the front) and press this toward the tensioner pivot; then slowly release the wrench. The tensioner should then stop on the retainer at a semi-released position so you can remove the wrench. To take the idler off the latch, be sure to rotate it COUNTER CLOCKWISE again until you hear the spring release.