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1988 Ford Ranger water pump replacement

Tiny
CASEYN
  • MEMBER
  • 1988 FORD RANGER
  • 2.9L
  • 6 CYL
I am trying to replace the water pump on a 1988 Ford Ranger 2.9 L. I need to know how to loosen the belts to get them off in order to take off the old pump and replace it. I am not sure what the belt tensioner looks like/where its located or how to access it. I have googled this amd also tried to find a video on YouTube/the inyernet with NO luck. Help! Thanks!
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Monday, June 30th, 2014 AT 8:07 PM

15 Replies

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,164 POSTS
Here are belt diagrams. Let me know if they help.
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Monday, June 30th, 2014 AT 9:27 PM
Tiny
CASEYN
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  • 9 POSTS
I dont see the diagrams.. Just the message. Maybe bc im using my phone?
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Monday, June 30th, 2014 AT 9:35 PM
Tiny
CASEYN
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  • 9 POSTS
Could you maybe email me them? Tootsnpowder@gmail. Com and how do I loosen them in order to properly remove them? Thanks!
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Monday, June 30th, 2014 AT 9:37 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,164 POSTS
http://www.2carpros.com/diagrams/ford/ranger/1988

You may not have an automatic tensioner. Look through the page I listed above as well as the picture attached. Let me know which is the same as yours.
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Tuesday, July 1st, 2014 AT 6:02 PM
Tiny
CASEYN
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  • 9 POSTS
Well I came to realize earlier that the 2.9L doesnt have a tensioner. The AC, power steering and alternator move to allow the belts to loosen (you loosen a few bolts on each one to allow it to move.). BUT now we have another problem. One of the bolts that needs to loosen on the alternator looks like it was put in backwards causing it to be unreachable (removing everything to get to the back side is not an option). Maybe I am not seeing the right bolts? Idk. And then one of the bolts I think I need to loosen from the AC is NOT a bolt. Its just the thread with a nut on it. So even when I take the nut off the thread is still there. Causing me to be unable to move it. This is becoming real pain and I just want it done!
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Tuesday, July 1st, 2014 AT 6:48 PM
Tiny
CASEYN
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  • 9 POSTS
This truck operates on the 3 belt system.
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Tuesday, July 1st, 2014 AT 6:51 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
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Okay, you're right. You need to loosen the parts you described to me. As far as the threaded bolt and nut, you should be able to tap the bolt out of the component. I don't think it would be threaded into place as well as have a nut on the end. Also, the bolt you said you couldn't access, what is in it's way? If it was put in, there must be a way to remove it.
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Tuesday, July 1st, 2014 AT 7:04 PM
Tiny
CASEYN
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There are a bunch of hoses and all kinds of small stuff in the way of that bolt. As for the thread. I'm thinking the bolt was originally to big for the part and the head broke off. That someone was lazy and put a nut on there instead of replacing. This is a friends truck my bf took as a side job to be kind and its became a pain n the ass. EVERYTHING is completely rusted. I am gonna try to use vice grips I guess on the bolt thread. As for the other one idk yet
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Tuesday, July 1st, 2014 AT 7:16 PM
Tiny
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Just make sure there isn't another nut or the head of a bolt on the opposite side. As far as the vice grips, that may be the only option. Make sure to spray it down with penetrating fluid before you try.

As far as the one that is hard to get to, carefully move things out of the way. Also, are you sure you couldn't get a box or open ended wrench on it?
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Tuesday, July 1st, 2014 AT 7:26 PM
Tiny
CASEYN
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Gonna finish (hopefully) in the AM. Its gotten really late. I think I can get the backwards bolt off in the daylight (I used drip light the last few hrs.). As for the bolt thread. Its in there pretty good. Vice grips are doing nothing other than attempting to strip the bolt. I tried hammering it out with no such luck. Any suggestions? I thought about maybe trying to drill it out. But not sure hpw I feel about that yet.
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Tuesday, July 1st, 2014 AT 8:46 PM
Tiny
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What is on the other side of the threaded bolt?
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Wednesday, July 2nd, 2014 AT 7:25 PM
Tiny
CASEYN
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I just posted a new question. Idk if u saw it. Well I got the bolt that was backwards taken care of. Now just the broken one. The only rhing on the back side of it is the AC mount I guess. A bunch of metal attached to the engine and stuff. That side of the bold is flush with the component and there is NO getting to that. We tried to drill it out today but there isn't enough room for the drill to fit between the bolt and the front of the truck to get it straight. We need to grind the bolt down (theres like an inch sticking out.). But we don't have a grinder on hand. No bolt cutters. No torch or welding equipment.. Idk what to do
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Wednesday, July 2nd, 2014 AT 7:39 PM
Tiny
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It sounds like you got a real problem. Have you soaked the bolt with penetrating fluid before you tried removing it?
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Wednesday, July 2nd, 2014 AT 7:50 PM
Tiny
CASEYN
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No but I guess we will have to try. I thought it was a broken bolt but now my bf is telling me its not a bolt its just a thread that was tightened with a nut. And the thread is stuck. Probably from all the damn rust.
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Wednesday, July 2nd, 2014 AT 8:11 PM
Tiny
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That's what I was thinking too. Get some good penetrating fluid, something like PB Blaster, and soak it. Allow it to sit overnight and spray it again before you start. Take a hammer and tap on it to see if it will break loose.
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Thursday, July 3rd, 2014 AT 7:51 PM

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