So, I need to replace the serpentine belt on my car. Looks fairly simple - let the alternator loose and swap it out. But I am wondering if anyone has any tips for me. How do I know how tight it should be when I get it back on? Anything specific I should or shouldn't do? Thanks!
I am fairly mechanically inclined. Am also replacing thermostat, which I have done before. Have rebuilt a careburetor, done brakes. Just want to make sure I don't monkey this up, since it runs the entire show.

 

you dont need to losen the alternator just release the tensioner (sp)? lol then pull the belt off and when you get it all back on right just open the tensioner again and slip the belt underneith.

 

Sorry, but that isn't going to work with a serpentine. It's way easier than that. You get yourself a half inch drive ratchet and use it to pull the tensioner back. The tensioner has a 1/2" square hole in it just for this purpose. You don't remove or loosen any of your accessories, just take the tension off so you can change the belt.

 

Thanks!

 

Hi,

Is there a special tool for belt replacement for:

91 Camaro RS/305L?

Thank you!

 

Special tool? A ratchet should fit into the auto tensioner and allow you to pull it back to release the pressure on the belt. The belt then just slides off, align your new belt on your pulleys and make sure you've got it going the right route, pull back the tensioner again, put the belt under the tensioner pulley, and slowly let the tensioner down. Should only take five minutes. The hardest parts are not pinching your fingers between the belt and pulleys and making sure you get the belts to line up on the pulleys. If you get belt over off the end of the pulley it'll try to toss and shred the belt later when you start it up.

 

I just did mine on an '89 TPI IROC conv. The old tensioner had a 1/2" hole for a breaker bar to release belt tension, but the new one did not. There is a Torx 55 holding the tensioner on. That's all! If your new one has no 1/2" hole, the trick here is to get a socket on the bolt that actually holds the pulley to the spring mechanism, It's a metric, which I didn't have, but I got an SAE close enough. The bolt is left-hand thread so it won't come loose if you start cranking on it. I really do suggest borrowing or better, buying a breaker bar. You just never know when one will come in handy!
Bob