Ford's V-10 engine is available in a myriad of vans and trucks. Each year and model of van or truck has a slightly different serpentine belt configuration, due to the components in the system and the physical size and shape of the engine well. If your V-10 has a serpentine belt that is fraying, cracking or losing ribs, you should replace it, immediately. Anyone with basic auto repair experience can change a belt on a V-10 in less than an hour.
Open the hood to expose the V-10. Look on the fan shroud or underside of the hood to locate the serpentine belt-routing diagram. Examine the diagram to familiarize yourself with the location of the components in the system, as well as the belt routing path.
Move the serpentine belt tensioner off the V-10 serpentine belt with the serpentine belt tool. Slide the belt to the side, so you can slowly move the belt tensioner back into position, while leaving the belt loose.
Slip the V-10 serpentine belt off the other pulleys, by hand, and remove it from the engine well. Depending on the year and model of the vehicle, as well as your physical size and dexterity, you may find it easier to access some of the lower pulleys from underneath the vehicle.
Wrap the new serpentine belt around the bottom of the V-10 crankshaft pulley, by hand. Refer to the serpentine belt diagram, and route the belt around the other pulleys, leaving the belt tensioner pulley for last. Be sure to route the belt exactly as depicted on the belt-routing diagram.
Move the V-10 serpentine belt tensioner aside with the serpentine belt tool. Slide the new serpentine belt onto the tensioner pulley, and hold it there, while slowly moving the tensioner back into position.
Remove the serpentine belt tool from the V-10 engine well. Close the vehicle hood.
