Ford came out with some tactics to help technicians deal with this common problem. Please take a minute to read them before installing a new part on your engine.

There are many causes that can force serpentine belts to become noisy. Sometimes this is due to pulley misalignment or even a wobbling accessory pulley. Also incorrect alignment of the drive belt can result in noise and premature wear.

A good trick for determining proper belt alignment would be to take a straight edge and place it in the grooves of the Pulley. You have to make sure that you are in the same grooves on each accessory. Even slight misalignment's will show up using this method.

Ford and other engine manufacturers do not recommend that you apply any types of fluids to the belts and this includes belt dressing or any other type of spray lubricant. These may solve the problem temporarily but can lead to the noise returning with a vengeance.

Often these belt dressings will start to break down the rubber on the belt and replacement will be needed. These engine belt noises can be intermittent or constant noise. Often this occurs when the drive belt slips on an accessory Pulley under heavy load conditions.

Engine belt dressing may increase the slipping but silence the noise because it is considered a lubricant. Use the above 5.4 Liter belt diagram to replace the serpentine belt instead of spraying belt dressings all over the old one.

Sometimes a serpentine belt may seem that it is noisy but is actually being caused by one of the accessories that it drives. An example would be if an AC system is overcharged the belt may slip over the compressor drive pulley.

Also in the case of an alternator or another accessory that has a worn sticking or even seized bearing can cause the belt to slip over the top of the Pulley instead of rotating the accessory properly.

Also fluid leakage onto the drive belt may cause the same condition where the belt will slip over the accessory instead of driving it properly. Most often you will see this with the water pump.

Sometimes the 5.4 Liter engine will get a slow leak from the water pump and as the pulley rotates it sprays on to the serpentine drive belt.

Often if the original belt didn't make any noise and was replaced due to regular maintenance if the replacement unit becomes noisy the correct size of the belt should be checked. Often I have seen an incorrect replacement belt cause this kind of noise.

When the accessory drive belt is too long this will allow the belt tensioner, number 7 in the 5.4 Liter belt diagram above, to be pulled all the way to the travel stop. This may cause an incorrect tension and allow for slipping condition that causes nasty belt noise.

The Ford engine belt tensioner has an indicator that shows a normal range of operation. If this indicator is out of this range this is a sure sign that either the belt has stretched excessively or the wrong part has been installed. You should also check that the tensioner has smooth operation and is not binding or sticking when you rotate it.

See the latest posts on this car repair Faq blog. This next link takes you from 5.4 liter belt diagram to the blog homepage.

But the percentage of times that a fuel pump will cause a cranking no start condition is most likely less than 25% (just educated guessing).

I suppose the actual failure rate of the fuel pump would be determined by year make and model of the vehicle.

But because the fuel pump is so often replaced before pinpoint diagnostics are performed I thought that I would discuss the subject of how a fuel pump circuit works.

Vehicles for around the last 20 years have in tank mounted electric fuel pumps. So this will be the type of fuel pump I will discuss in this short article.

Electric fuel pumps and circuits will vary greatly depending on the vehicle year make and model. Most of these fuel pump control circuits are tied to the vehicles main computer.

Using a General Motors fuel pump and electronic controlled circuitry as an example will provide a good overview of how most fuel pumps operate and are controlled.

In a late model GM fuel pump circuit the power train control module supplies voltage to the fuel pump relay when the ignition switch is turned on. This action closes the relay contacts and voltage is directly supplied to the in tank fuel pump.

The fuel pump is energized for about 2 seconds and will remain on if the engine is cranking. If the engine is not being cranked the PCM shuts off the voltage to the fuel pump relay through an internal timer. This makes checking for voltage at the fuel pump difficult. The connector must be pulled off at the tank and a buddy needs to operate the ignition switch or crank the engine to properly check for voltage.

To further complicate the circuit and engine oil pressure switch is connected in parallel to the fuel pump relay. If the relay becomes inoperative voltage is supplied through the oil pressure switch contacts to override the defective relay and provide power to the fuel pump.

This will prevent the vehicle from having to be towed due to a defective fuel pump relay. Although keep in mind that long engine cranking before the engine actually starts up is a side effect and can help in diagnosis.

An engine cranking but not starting condition caused by a bad fuel pump can be confirmed by a fuel pressure test and checking for voltage at the pump.

If you have 12 V at the pump as described above and no fuel pressure in the line this is in strong indication of a defective unit. Often when I have run across these types of conditions I can bang on the fuel pump and it will begin to run.

What happens is the windings or brushes in the motor will have a bad spot. The vibration of the banging can get the motor past this open in the windings and it will begin to run again. Note that this does not always work and if you run into this condition replacing the pump is the best solution.

Too often both professional technicians and DIY driveway mechanics will go ahead and replace the fuel pump without taking the proper diagnostics steps. There's nothing worse than pulling out a gas tank filled to the top with fuel replacing the pump and then finding out that it was not the problem causing the no start.

I would recommend purchasing a repair manual and following the specific steps outlined for checking the voltage at the pump motor as well as taking the time to check for fuel pressure. Fuel pressure testers can be had at your local parts stores and even department stores for around $25.

This can save you a lot of trouble and is a good tool to have in your box. Do you need more information about online car repair. This next link takes you to the homepage from this No starts and fuel pumps page.

In the 80s and 90s sub frame vehicle construction was not as solid as they are today. Squeaks and rattles are complained about less today then just a few years ago.

As a mechanic or even a vehicle owner trying to hunt down one of these annoying sounds directional hearing skills will be your most effective weapon.

This page will discuss types of sounds that your car will make and help to dissect the noises to send you in the right direction to solve the problem. I would like to start off with an example of a rattle and squeak on my own personal car that drove me crazy and was difficult to find.

It's funny that I have to go back so far and talk about my 1979 Trans Am, but this was a challenging car noises to find. My Trans Am was a sub frame car that was built in the days when this technology was relatively new. The torque of the big block 6.6 L engine and the fact that the car had removable T-tops made the entire car weak.

Every time the T/A hit a bump or pothole there would be a lot of body movement.

This flexing caused a creek and pop and sometimes a squeak and rattle above the drivers head. Even the slightest irregularity in the road would activate this wide range of noises.

To hunt down this noise I had to remove the headliner from the vehicle. Removing the headliner did not reveal the source of the car noise. I had a friend drive it over a bumpy road while I moved around the interior to locate the source.

To make a long story short, a bonded interior seem on the rear roofline had broken loose and was allowing the two separate pieces of sheet metal to shift over each other when the body flexed.

A mechanic will often be asked to listen to sounds coming from an automobile. It is important to pay attention to the type of sound, its intensity and its frequency. The tone of the noise usually indicates the type of material that is causing it.

If the sound is dull the material is soft such as aluminum. If it is a sharp high pitch sound it will most likely be generated from an area that can vibrate quickly and made of harder materials.

Using engine noises as an example, a rod knock starts off as a soft thud that quickly becomes worse. This is because the softer bearing material reduces the noise between the 2 hardened steel objects (the rod and crankshaft). As the bearing material decreases the noise increases.

If a sound is increasing with the engines RPMs you know that the noise must be coming from something that is moving or rotating faster as the engine increases speed. This makes tracking the sound easier by reducing the possibilities.

If you can determine that the noise is occurring at half of the engine RPMs the source of the sound is from something such as camshaft or oil pumps drive that would rotate at half the speed of the crankshaft.

Noise is defined as any unwanted sound. It can be both random and steady. When identifying the source of the noise you must open your mind to all the possibilities. An example would be when a vibration or noise begins traveling through other components that it is attached to.

The source of the noise may not always be originating from the location that is releasing the sound. Using the example on my 1979 Trans Am the sound appeared to be coming from over the drivers head. But in fact the broken seem was at the rear of the passenger compartment. The noise was traveling forward due to the flexing of the roofline.

Many car manufacturers will use sound insulation to prevent traveling of noises from one place to another. One of the main differences between baseline automobiles and luxury cars is the amount of sound insulation laid down at the factory.

Sound insulation material can be purchased in roles and is relatively inexpensive. You can add additional sound deadening material to your own vehicle that can greatly reduce the car noises that you hear.

This online car repair website offers many different kinds of information as well as more automotive diagnostic tips.

A dirty sticky spot on an ac line or fitting should catch your attention. The Freon contains the oil charge necessary to lubricate the compressor.

The presence of oil around and AC fitting or line is a strong indication of freon leaking. My first step in most auto repairs including auto AC leak diagnosis is to perform a solid visual inspection of the entire system.

Although this is always my first step for diagnosing Freon leaks it is not always effective in finding the problem.

In fact, this visual inspection will only uncover large to extremely large leaks. And by far the most common car AC problem would be small leaks that allow Freon to escape over long periods of time.

Most auto repair shops employ a refrigerant leak detection method know as a fluorescent dye tracer system. These are inexpensive and great for finding stubborn leaks. The kits usually come with enough supplies to perform the leak check on many vehicles.

To find refrigerant leaks using the fluorescent tracer system, you first have to install the fluorescent dye into the air-conditioning system. Always follow the instructions and do not install too much dye! It can reduce overall system efficiency.

These kits come with an injection device to push the dye into the lines. After circulating it you then put on your yellow glasses and look for traces of the dye and Freon mix leaking out. I have more information on these types of ac leak detection devices.

The worst injuries I have seen involving auto ac repair and refrigeration service is when automotive technicians get liquid Freon in their eyes. The liquid refrigerant will actually freeze the eyeball and cause frostbite damage to the eye surface. For god sakes wear safety glasses when working around refrigerant. The damage to your eyes in most cases would be permanent and could leave you blind.

Freon can also cause frostbite damage to the surface of exposed skin. For God sakes wear long-sleeved shirts and pants, and also protective gloves.

If you should come in contact with liquid Freon, The best advice is to run the affected area under cool water for 15 minutes and then seek immediate medical attention.

You don't have to be afraid to attempt Diy ac repairs as long as you think it through first and realize the possible complications of your actions.

Example: If you undo a fitting that has 100 psi of Freon pressure, chances for injury are high. If you recover the Freon first and open the fitting with no pressure present in the ac system (confirmed with a connected manifold gauge) injury would be near impossible.

Auto ac Freon leaks can be an expensive repair at specialty shops during peak demand (summer). People with some experience in the driveway can often solve issues causing the ac to blow warm air. I'm a strong believer that it is easier to fix something when you understand how it works.

The car AC section of my other website YouFixCars.com has about 8 pages of pictures and training on this subject. You will also find products and parts to help in the diagnosis and repair of your auto ac freon leaks. This next link will take you to the automotive air-conditioning education pages.

Find more information about the business of car repairs and the most recent posts on the blog for online auto repair

Testing automotive AC can be tackled in the driveway by a DIY car mechanic with some experience wearing comfortable safety glasses. Performance testing the system is a good place to start.

Performance testing provides a measurement of air-conditioning system operation and efficiency. It is recommended that a manifold pressure gauge be used to determine both the high and low pressures in the automotive AC system.

These manifold gauge sets have really come down in price over the last few years. Although professional grade sets can cost well over $100 a good DIY set can be had for fewer than 50.

This could be considered a good investment that will return big rewards over time on several different vehicles.

The desired pressure readings will vary according to the temperature during the time of testing.

Professional auto service manuals will include a temperature pressure chart as a guide to determine the proper pressure for your vehicle under the conditions the test is being performed.

You can use a basic rule of thumb that the low side readings should be around 35 psi. Also the high side should read anywhere from 150 to 200 psi. This is just a generalization and these readings will again be determined by the amount of Freon in the system and the outside temperature during testing.

Another variable that will affect operating pressures would be humidity. On a more humid day operating pressures will be higher than readings obtained on a very dry day. If you are operating pressures both on the high and low side are found to be within the normal range then the Freon or refrigeration portion of the air-conditioning system is most likely functioning correctly.

This can be further confirmed with a check of the output duct temperature. You can use a thermometer inserted in the center duct to determine the discharge temperature into the passenger compartment. They do make specialized thermometers that will clip onto the vent grille and provide an accurate reading.

Output temperature again will be determined by outside temperature and humidity. A good rule of thumb to use is the ac duct temperature should be anywhere between 40 to 50°. Here in Florida an air-conditioning system is seldom found to have an output temperature of less than 50°on a hot humid day.

A good tip for obtaining the most real world temperature output. For the best results place a high speed fan in front of the radiator grille to simulate road operation and provide sufficient airflow across the condenser. For the most accurate reading place your thermometer in the center duct and reduce your blower setting to either low or low 2. Placing the blower on a higher setting actually rushes the air through the evaporator and can increase output temperatures.

Lots of automotive information is available here. See the latest blog auto repair posts.

Prior to this my mechanic career had taken me the route of the new car dealership technician. I held this position for about 20 years and worked for about six or seven different new car dealerships. It is commonplace to switch jobs several times in a mechanics career.

Although there are always exceptions to the rule. A real life example would be my first dealership when my mechanic career first started. Me and my best friend were hired right out of high school by a local Pontiac dealership.

After we completed our training and passed our ASE certification tests I moved on for more money. My buddy stayed planted at that dealership and still works there today.

Working at the same place for 25 years has allowed him to build up a nice retirement fund and it was looking like he would be able to retire much sooner than me who continued to jump around to different new car dealers.

His plan was working great until the economy crashed and his retirement fund was cut in half by losses. Added to this the fact that Pontiac has been slated to be discontinued by General Motors and my friend is not in such a good position.

Maybe if he worked for Ford instead of Pontiac the situation would be different. But you know what they say hindsight is 2020. And when he started this position 25 years ago Pontiac was one of the strongest selling product lines in America.

When it comes to a mechanics career the dealership level technician is considered an affluent position as compared to a quick lube mechanic. An advantage of working at a new car dealership service center is the ongoing training in cutting edge technology.

A mechanic career in the dealership has a few other advantages like, factory backed technical training, shop equipment, and your opportunity for fixing cars that employ the latest technologies are at the top of the list.

At The dealership you have the opportunity to become very skillful in working on the vehicles that you service. It is easier to separate and concentrate on one brand and type of vehicle and become a true expert on that product line.

If you work for an independent repair facility you are exposed to so many different vehicles is very hard to become an expert on every single one of these. Jack of all trades and master of none comes to mind.

A new vehicle dealership can serve as a direct link between the vehicle manufacturer and customer buying the automobile. In most cases these new car dealerships are privately owned and operated.

Most of these new car stores are franchised operation which means the owner has signed a contract with a particular automobile manufacturer and has agreed to service and sell their vehicles.

Sometimes this is an exclusive agreement where the owner of the business agrees not to sell any other brands. In this case the car manufacturer will have a lot of control over the entire business and will set policies for sales and service.

As far as the service department goes the primary mission will be to keep customers satisfied by providing warranty service on the purchased automobile. For this reason the need for good mechanics will only increase.

In the case of warranty work the customer is not charged for necessary repairs. The dealership and in turn the mechanic are paid by the vehicle manufacturer to perform these needed repairs.

The carmaker in an effort to control costs will supply the dealership service department with the necessary training, special tools and equipment, and the latest information in repairing trends to help cut down the time effort and parts used to repair vehicles.

This is why a mechanics career opportunities can be accelerated while working in one of these departments. It is in the manufacturer's best interest that the mechanics working on its vehicles become extremely efficient at repairing them.

Putting yourself in front of all this training and support can be a good career move. For more information and car repair Faq's visit the blog auto repair.

These bold people willing to learn a new skill, truly earn my respect and admiration.

There is no question that do-it-yourself auto repair can save money if applied properly.

The trick is to perform only the work that is needed and avoid replacing parts that are not required.

It is very tempting to start throwing parts like a throttle position sensor at the vehicle in the hopes it will solve the car problems.

This procedure usually leads to disappointment and expenditures that would have exceeded having someone else fix the car for you.

My main advice is to learn about your vehicle. Spend the money and purchase service manuals or reference materials that will support your repairs.

Since your relationship with your car is most likely a long-term affair this would be considered a good investment.

Just a few years ago the average motorist would keep their car for around five years. Now the average age of vehicle ownership is 7 to 10 years.

When doing some research about fixing old cars I've found some reports that state that most major repair and overhaul work performed in both dealerships and independent garages are on vehicles of the average age of seven years.

In the auto repair business this is known as gravy work. There are no warranties to deal with and the repairs are paid for in cash. There is also plenty of work that needs to be done on these older vehicles.

Even though these vehicles are aging does not mean that they are not complex. The repair that is required may be beyond the ability of the average do-it-yourself car mechanic.

There also may be instances where special tools and equipment are required. As mentioned above it is important to completely research the problems you're having with your vehicle before you attempt repairs.

Also some people would say, okay I purchased a repair manual and spent a lot of time learning about the problem and now I can't fix it. This is not wasted time or wasted money.

When you are forced to take your vehicle in for the repair you will be able to discuss the expenses and the repairs themselves as an educated consumer. This is the most effective way at the receiving fair pricing and timely service.

As a professional auto mechanic I can tell you that I truly respect somebody who takes the time to learn about their vehicle and the repairs required.

In many cases you will find that the shop and the mechanic will go the extra mile to make sure that there educated consumer is completely satisfied.

Go back to the Online Auto Repair Blog for the latests posts.

Although the computer systems can make adjustments to cover up some problems, the vehicles computers cannot replace parts that wear.

The onboard electronics cannot tighten loose bolts that have come loose from vibration. No more than they can change engine oil or flush cooling systems.

Simple problems such as these can set off a chain of events and cause heart problems that will continue to worsen if not addressed.

Even if these problems do not stop you from starting and reaching your destination they can cause issues with overall performance and efficiency of the automobile in question.

Various maintenance procedures usually are performed according to a schedule recommended by the vehicle's manufacturer. Car mechanics would reference these services as preventative maintenance.

If the vehicle's owner fails to follow the recommended maintenance schedule provided by the carmaker problems may result.

An example would be if an internal engine failure was experienced under the warranty. Yet no proof of engine oil changes existed.

These maintenance records can be requested by the manufacturer and proof of lack of maintenance can be confirmed by analyzing oil samples.

The carmaker is not required to replace an engine that wasn't cared for properly. Although keep in mind that it is the manufacturers responsibility to prove that the car was not maintained properly.

Depending on the dealership they may find it more profitable to just replace the engine under warranty.

In other cases large warranty claims are reviewed by the carmaker. Before these claims are satisfied proof of maintenance must be supplied.

This is because the details of most manufacturer warranties normally will vary depending on each individual company. Most manufacturers will provide several levels of warranty coverage.

Powertrain warranties will cover the engine and transmission as well as the drive axles and other related powertrain components.

Other items such as the vehicle's battery may only be warranted on a prorated basis.

If the battery is expected to have a five-year lifespan and fails after two years only partial coverage will be supplied from the carmaker.

The owner would be responsible to pay for the balance out of their own pocket. Most car owners do not read their owner's manual for the details about these factory warranty coverage’s.

It is not until they bring their vehicle in for major service and are handed a bill that they actually care about the subject.

Your car is such a big investment, the owner's manual should be required reading. Open up your glove box remove the warranty manual and read it cover to cover.

Yes it is very boring reading but with the size of your investment I would consider this time well spent.

Drive belt failures are still one of the leading causes of on the road breakdowns. Many maintenance items can now reach 100,000 miles before replacement or servicing is required.

Unfortunately this has not trickled down to the modern-day serpentine belt. Although the 4.9 liter ford engine does come with a hardy belt from the factory that I have seen go for up to 75,000 miles.

This is one reason I recommend you take a trip to the Ford parts department for a replacement.

The ford factory belts in my opinion is of much higher quality then let’s say a dayco made in china part. In some case the ford belt may be double the price and worth every penny.

In fact I have had some belt noise issues with the dayco direct replacement for the 4.9l ford. As a professional mechanic you really can't put a price on fixing it right the first time.

Checking the belt is just important today as it was on automobiles 15 years ago. I might even say that it is even more important. This is because on vehicles of the no so distant past deployed multiple drive belts driving different accessories.

If you lost one belt, depending on which one that was, you could still most likely make it to a repair shop without towing the car or truck. But the modern serpentine belt drives all of the accessories and if this belt goes you are most likely calling for a tow.

The amount of spring force that the 4.9l belt tensioner has is impressive.

Some diy car mechanics will use a breaker bar with a long handle to overcome the strength of the belts tensioner.

The thickness and bulk of a breaker bar can be difficult to use on some models. They make a special tool that is much better than a breaker bar.

It is called a serpentine belt tool. In my opinion this is a must-have for do-it-yourself mechanics as well as professionals.

I own one that was made by the Lisle Corporation, and I use it often.

In fact mechanics that I work with asked to borrow it all the time. It makes replacing belts a lot easier, faster and also a lot safer.

Do not underestimate the power of the tensioner spring on a 4.9l ford. And for god sakes wear some eye protection.

The online auto repair home page is up next and is a good place to discover what else is covered on this website.

You can also learn more about the professional auto mechanic that thinks it is within reach for most people to perform some auto repairs.

When customers need their cars repaired, or if they are going to attempt the repairs themselves proper automotive diagnosis can help control costs, as well as produce reliable car repairs.

The more the driver understands the problem with their vehicle, the better the communication will be with the mechanic or auto repair shop.

And this communication can be critical for diagnostic charges. If the mechanic is looking for something different than your complaint much time can be wasted.

So to follow is some recommendations about understanding your individual car problem and taking it to the next level by actually doing some research before any action is taken.

To properly diagnose car problems it is best to follow a series of interrelated steps in order to find the solution to a specific car problem.

Automotive diagnostics is a way of looking at a system not functioning properly and finding out why.

This is achieved with a thorough understanding of how the system that is malfunctioning, operates when in perfect working order.

 Example, if you're car doesn't start and you believe that it is the fuel pump causing this condition. The first step is to sit down and understand the operation of the fuel pump circuit.

In the case of the fuel pump, understanding the electrical circuit is a good start but not the only steps that need to be taken.

You also want to understand how the pump produces the pressure and supplies fuel to the injector rail. After understanding how the pressure is created and how this affects engine operation, diagnosis becomes much easier.

Inside automotive service manuals, there are diagnostic aids given for many different systems. These are either symptom-based diagrams or flowcharts.

The flowchart can also be known as a tree chart or even a ladder diagram. But no matter what you call it, this is a step-by-step process that will most likely lead you to success in the shortest time period.

When you follow the repair diagram, you will answer questions at each step. In most cases the answer to that question will be yes or no.

The yes answer will lead you down a different path than the no answer will. This is why it is critical to perform each step correctly. Or you will wind up going down the wrong side of the chart.

Also keep in mind that there are rare cases where a specific car problem may fall through the cracks of your auto repair manual. Although this is extremely rare sometimes you will have to use alternative methods.

When the car repair diagram proves to be ineffective most auto mechanics will conduct a thorough visual inspection of the failed system. Often road debris can cause damage that may not fall in line with your diagnostic tree charts.

Another circumstance that can cause extremely odd symptoms would be your friendly neighborhood rodent partially chewing through a bulk wiring harness.

In this case, voltage and ground testing may produce unusual readings that do not match what the repair manual provides.

Sometimes fixing cars is a huge challenge and other times you find the fault quickly. So let me ask you this. Do you feel lucky?

Take a look at my online auto service manual page and watch the video at the bottom. This way you can see what a professional automotive diagnosis program looks like.