Checking drive belts

Auxiliary units (generator, water pump and others) in Mondeo, a V-belt is driven, in Duratec-HE and DuraTorg units, the 6K-Poly-V belt solves this problem (multi-groove belt). The Duratec-VE has two such belts, one on the right side of the engine for the alternator, power steering pump and AC compressor and the other on the left side for driving the water pump. In general, Ford uses drive belts that follow the radii of the belt pulleys particularly flexibly. In order to avoid irritation and anger in cases of emergency, include in your emergency kit the necessary spare drive belts - someday you will need them.

Belt drive Duratec-HE

1 - Generator, 2 - Swivel roller, 3 — the Pump of the hydraulic amplifier of a steering drive, 4 - Water pump, 5 - AC compressor, 6 - Torsional vibration damper, 7 - Automatic belt tensioner.

Modified belt drive «new» Duratec-VE

1 - Generator, 2 — the Pump of the hydraulic amplifier of a steering drive, 3 - Automatic belt tensioner, 4 - AC compressor, 5 - Torsional vibration damper.

With two swivel castors: DuraTorg-DI belt drive

1 - Swivel roller, 2 - Belt tensioner, 3 - Swivel roller, 4 - AC compressor, 5 - Drive belt, 6 - Torsional vibration damper, 7 - Generator.

Checking the tension of drive belts

Drive belts do their job properly only when they are properly tensioned: they should be tight, but not so tight. Check the clearance from time to time in the most «distant» between two auxiliary drives. Just lightly squeeze the belts there with your fingers: if the gap is from three to five millimeters, then we can assume that everything is in order. Tight belts are bad for the life of the bearings of the generator, water pump (depending on engine type) and air conditioning compressor.

In addition, tight drive belts are overstretched and can break because of this. «Relaxed» drive belts, on the contrary, slip - this becomes noticeable by weak squeaking noises. Generator among others «suffering» more often than not, it does not generate enough charging current that the battery requires when driving short distances or during cold starts. In addition, the belts themselves are damaged, its edges «burn out». And as a result: premature wear. In extreme cases, slipping drive belts can also lead to an increase in engine temperature and thus more serious damage (e.g. pinched piston, burnt cylinder head gasket). Although the Mondeo automatically adjusts the gap of the drive belts, from time to time you should take a look at this «transmission».

PROCEDURE

Check belt surfaces. Turn the engine over by hand several times. This is the only way to reliably view the entire V-belt. Most often, V-belts can have one, but a deep crack. And if, during the inspection, this crack, unfortunately, appears on the belt pulley, even during the inspection, a defect may appear. If defects have been established, it is better to immediately replace the drive belt. For example, if you have: - irregular grinding marks on the edges of the belt, - porous, frayed edges or surfaces, - old cracks.