1988 Fiero coupe for long travels on my job. I was heading back from Davenport Iowa heading back east to Des Moines Iowa after my jobs, one in Bettendorf, and one in Davenport. I ran into this storm system, and it caused my serpentine belt to fly of. I recently installed a new Gates belt with air conditioning on at 2.5. I have the Rodney Dickman tensioner set up and didn’t see anything wrong with it. What my diagnosis is was that it was just so wet that it slipped off of the tensioner pulley through heavy downpours. I was stranded just north of West liberty on I 80 on an onramp after having to pull off of the highway, because it started to overheat and no voltage. While I was sitting there on the on ramp, I realized it would take at least 15 miles to get undercover to be able to fix it. Getting back onto I 80 hoping that that rain downpour would subside, and the lightning strikes would stop, I suddenly realized that I can get back onto I 80 if I went back onto the offramp and got under a bridge It would be my best bet as it was lightning strikes and raining to where I couldn’t do anything except try to protect myself. It was a scary call, but I was finally able to get under the bridge and get the serpentine belt back on and continue my way, but not without further problems because somebody had flipped over in their SUV by driving too fast and it caused everything to stop on I 80 heading back west finally got out of that mess and traveled east to where I was able to stop off at Coralville Iowa and check everything. What a nightmare.
[This message has been edited by Erik (edited 07-11-2025).]
Daily travels? Brave man for using a stock 37 year old car for basic transportation. If a belt slips off, its usually a problem with alignment, or a worn pulley, more than just rain. Good that you had the wherewithal to fix the issue on the road and that the overheating didn't do damage to the engine, or warp the cylinder head..
------------------ " THE BLACK PARALYZER" -87GT 3800SC Series III engine, custom ZZP /Frozen Boost Intercooler setup, 3.4" Pulley, Northstar TB, LS1 MAF, 3" Spintech/Hedman Exhaust, P-log Manifold, Autolite 104's, MSD wires, Custom CAI, 4T65eHD w. custom axles, Champion Radiator, S10 Brake Booster, HP Tuners VCM Suite. "THE COLUSSUS" 87GT - ALL OUT 3.4L Turbocharged engine, Garrett Hybrid Turbo, MSD ign., modified TH125H " ON THE LOOSE WITHOUT THE JUICE "
Daily travels? Brave man for using a stock 37 year old car for basic transportation. If a belt slips off, its usually a problem with alignment, or a worn pulley, more than just rain. Good that you had the wherewithal to fix the issue on the road and that the overheating didn't do damage to the engine, or warp the cylinder head..
dennis. some of us were using a 69 toronado til 2021 as a daily driver (1500 bucks and the engine let go)...then a 88 v6 fiero then a 84 and now a 91 f250 with over a million miles on the 460. using a stock car isnt brave if the maintenance is kept up on no matter the age. i had less issues on my formula (minus the constant overheating from whatever its issue was. never did figure it out since it fixed itself) than a 2009 f250 super duty a family member owned
Not to be critical but you must consider the reliability stats on high mileage vehicles used for daily driving. My experience has been that even with regular maintenance parts can and still do wear out. My old Chevy 3,1L Malibu way back when had 105K miles on the OD. A rear stabilizer bar completely rusted out, the water pump, power steering and the A/C stopped working After calling AAA for several tows the car was finally sold for scrap, You may disagree but the effects of time and wear can be slowed but in the end they do take its toll.
------------------ " THE BLACK PARALYZER" -87GT 3800SC Series III engine, custom ZZP /Frozen Boost Intercooler setup, 3.4" Pulley, Northstar TB, LS1 MAF, 3" Spintech/Hedman Exhaust, P-log Manifold, Autolite 104's, MSD wires, Custom CAI, 4T65eHD w. custom axles, Champion Radiator, S10 Brake Booster, HP Tuners VCM Suite. "THE COLUSSUS" 87GT - ALL OUT 3.4L Turbocharged engine, Garrett Hybrid Turbo, MSD ign., modified TH125H " ON THE LOOSE WITHOUT THE JUICE "
Hey Erik, if you don't already have this (I'm thinking you don't), get this kit from Rodney Dickman... it's $118 bucks and installs a dead pulley which improves the surface area adhesion of the belt on both the alternator, and the crank pulley. It's a MUST have for our V6 and completely eliminates any belt slipping that you might have in the future.
...improves the surface area adhesion of the belt on both the alternator, and the crank pulley. It's a MUST have for our V6 and completely eliminates any belt slipping that you might have in the future.
Agreed! I originally had one of Rodney's first, but it is not spring loaded like Dodgerunner's version. Ordered Dodgerunner's version and never looked back! I've bought many great parts from Rodney, but have to agree Dodgerunner's design is definitely superior on this part!
I've bought many great parts from Rodney, but have to agree Dodgerunner's design is definitely superior on this part!
For sure! I've bought many fine items from Rodney as well over the years, and have been quite satisfied with them... but Dodgerunner's autotensioner is the cat's meow!
I like Dogerunner of course, but for me, I like the simplicity of Rodney's kit, and that it keeps things mostly stock looking while maintaining using the alternator as the pivot point.
That said, the tensioner will probably handle fluctuations in the accessory belt a bit better than solid-fixed pulleys.
