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Belt Tensioner SNAPPED OFF

dtech

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The BIG QUESTION remains - Is this a chain reaction event? Bad Tensioner / Bad Idler Pulley producing undo stress on the mount or is it strictly a total design / manufacturing flaw- either way this should not happen and needs to have a separate mounting bracket that is a simple replacement vs complete cover which is not a simple task, requiring special tooling to do it.
Or is it a combination of BOTH flaws that cause it to shear off.
If I recall we were only seeing these on the 2020 now it’s showing up on the 2021.
Frustrating Indeed.
Maybe the Fitzmotor can work his magic here ?
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navychuck72

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Not sure what engineer decided to add the belt Tensioner pully mount bracket to the front Chain belt cover, but that was not a good decision for Ford Ranger owners. A very costly mistake.
 

Cmar

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The same engineer that decided having a separate bracket would :

(A) Cost more money to make and fit
(B) Require two more bolts - to bolt said bracket to the block
(C) Not save Ford $2.50 per engine which makes Ford $2,500,000 per million engines produced
(D) Had computer simulated that by the time the integral bracket failed (if it failed at all) in 97% of cases the lease would be up and the car effectively out of warranty anyway.
 
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Frenchy

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Not sure what engineer decided to add the belt Tensioner pully mount bracket to the front Chain belt cover, but that was not a good decision for Ford Ranger owners. A very costly mistake.
You have to remember something. At Ford they clearly have better ideas than you and they know it.
 

dtech

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The same engineer that is enjoying a his vacations from submitting the cost saving idea, ho ho ho
 


Racket

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Frenchy

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That is the same thing a Tacoma owner said to me when I bought my Ranger. After a $4k belt tensioner replacement, He might be right.
You do realize that Toyota is s******* engines and transmissions left and right at the moment?! Nissan's beating Toyota at this moment because they're not destroying transmissions or engines. Frontiers are much higher quality truck than the Tacoma. Best part is it doesn't cost near as much either
 

navychuck72

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You do realize that Toyota is s******* engines and transmissions left and right at the moment?! Nissan's beating Toyota at this moment because they're not destroying transmissions or engines. Frontiers are much higher quality truck than the Tacoma. Best part is it doesn't cost near as much either
Have you EVER owned a Ford before, because EVERY Ford that I have owned 2016 Ford F150 had a transmission issue and cost a fortune just to replace the sparkplugs that would break off in the engine or a $1000 to just replace the leaking exhaust manifolds, so you can say all you want about Toyota but Ford definitely has it's issues as well. The question is which Manufacturer as screwed you over the latest and paying $4k to have a defective belt tensioner bracket replaced is one heck of a start.
 
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Frenchy

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Have you EVER owned a Ford before, because EVERY Ford that I have owned 2016 Ford F150 had a transmission issue and cost a fortune just to replace the sparkplugs that would break off in the engine or a $1000 to just replace the leaking exhaust manifolds, so you can say all you want about Toyota but Ford definitely has it's issues as well. The question is which Manufacturer as screwed you over the latest and paying $4k to have a defective belt tensioner bracket replaced is one heck of a start.
First Ford I owned was a 2019 Ford ranger. Look at my profile picture and you will see it. Second Ford is a 94 F-150. That particular one's been through so much hell that I can't even drive it right now as it needs Chip Foose to overhaul it.

That don't get me wrong, even I I noticed Port had its own issue. I experienced the wonderful HVAC box warping on me. Seems like I got lucky on the belt tensioner myself
 

Cmar

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I've owned quite a few Fords in my life and my experience is either you get one that starts breaking about 5 minutes after you drive it off the lot and continues to do so at regular intervals until you get sick of it, and get rid of it.
OR it goes seemingly forever with just regular normal maintenance but with annoying little glitches that you can mostly ignore.
There does not seem to be any middle ground.

Or on the other hand I've also owned a Nissan Pathfinder that absolutely nothing went wrong with in almost 400,000 Km, and a Land Rover product (pre Ford ownership of Rover) that broke something almost every time I took it out. I think Ford actually IMPROVED Land Rover reliability when they owned them.

Pay out on Chinese cars all you like but my wife has owned a Chinese EV for 3 years and ~ 50,000 Km and despite some things on it which I consider a bit on the flimsy side, absolutely NOTHING has gone wrong with it, nothing has broken, and it really gets used, she has a long distance commute with a charge available at either end and so it is perfect for her.
 

woodworker

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6am, Saturday morning, I pulled out onto the arterial and got up to speed. Then a violent clattering from the engine, "check brakes" and "low oil pressure" warnings, so I stopped immediately and shut her off. I found the serpentine belt shredded and wrapped around the fan, and various tubes and wires severed. Eventually noticed the belt tensioner has snapped clean off and must have been slung into the radiator tank, because that's leaking. At the dealership now awaiting diagnostics.

Ford Performance tune, aFe charge pipes, mishimoto intake, 3" turbo back. Think they'll tell me the mods caused this?

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I don’t even qualify as the (ex) in “expert” here but I wonder if the idler bearing locked up and caused the housing to shear off?
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