SHredding belts all of a sudden...

[HVAC SuperTech]

My truck just stareted to shred its serpentine belt. I had one rib totally gone from the old belt, approx 2.5 years old. not cracked, just one rib ripped off. i did notice that I had jumped a rib on one of the pullies. like, the crank pulley and bottom side was all lined up, then the PS pump had the belt up towards the frontof the pulley, and back rib was open on the pump....but, the alternator was in correct spot, with the front rib showing on the pulley. its like it got out of wack or something.

I replaced it with a dayco belt about a month ago...noticed that I heard some slapping goin on, pulled over, and it started to shred the front rib again. and the belt was out of alignment on the pullies again. I have not removed or taken anyhting loose on the serpantine belt system, so I would have assumed nothing is out of alignmnet. I did notice that I have a squeal problem now, and wondered if it was the idler.

could the idler going bad cause the belt to jump ribs and shred like that?

[justinmix]

Yes, sounds like either an idler or the tensioner is worn out. I'd take the belt off and try wiggling all the pulleys up and down and look for play. The only one you won't be able to tell is the tensioner itself. The part of the tensioner that pivot will get worn out and have play, but it's almost impossible to tell that due to the constant spring tension on it. If all other pulleys check out I would replace the tensioner.

[Ryan Rønning]

Yup definitely have a pulley going out.

[HVAC SuperTech]

Thank you guys....I figured as much.

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