Misaligned pulleys question

It may just need a new tensioner and/or idler and another new belt. If that's the case, a day should do it.

 

If you're looking to minimize the downtime you could swing by a shop, have them take a look and identify the cause, then call ahead to the shop you will use for the repair so they will have the needed parts when you arrive. That way you can just wait for the truck when it's being repaired, unless it turns into something more major.

 

Oh Ok, I gotcha. What engine? Got any comrades that you run with that are familiar with your setup?

 

If it's chirping it's like bender says. The belts are wearing from slippage due to a worn tensioner. It's a simple repair. I wouldn't think an hour on labor. I would get the parts he says.

And/or if you have an obvious misalignment of the belt that means one time or another a wrong part was replaced. The mechanic replacing the tensioner can give you advice on that. It's hard to say from a computer without looking at it. It can easily be remedied with shims and spacers or replacing an incorrect part.

 

I would be looking at the fan hub for bearing failure. The way I see this is, when you have the winter front on, the engine fan can't pull hard due to no air supply and would remain in line even with a failing fan hub bear set. When you have the winter front off the fan pulls hard, moving the fan hub and pulley forward because of the failing fan hub bearings which makes the pulley out of line and causes the belt squeal/damage. You can slip the belt off and check the fan hub for bearing play and if you find the problem is the fan hub, order a reman hub ahead of time or a rebuild kit to repair your current hub. Labor is roughly 2.5 hrs to remove and install the hub and an additional 1.0 hr or so to kit the hub so well within a working day.

I would take care of this right away before you lose the fan hub and it takes out the radiator.