TJohnson

I know I am going to feel like a complete idiot when I get the answer, but I can not make sense of how to get the serpentine belt off. I've got electric fans so its all open in front there and when I put a 14mm socket on what appears to be the tensioner (its' the only pulley that is just a pulley), it either does nothing one way or the bolt itself gets loose the other way. I don't want to wrench on it too hard and make a mistake, so is there something I'm missing? It's attached to the tear drop shaped bracket that goes just under the valve cover.

Am I missing something? I apologize for the stupid question, but I've never had a problem replacing any belt and can not figure this one out.

O. L. T.

iTrader: (17)

Engine related threads go in the engine forum, or in maintenance.

TJohnson

My apologies. It wasn't performance related exactly so I wasn't sure where to put it.

Ali SC3

iTrader: (10)

the bolt shouldn't be coming off. If the bolt is coming off you are turning it the wrong way. you need to tighten that bolt and continue to apply torque in that direction, kep the ratchet handle pointing to drivers side and push down. It is not rocket science. worst comes to worst you can just push it to the side with a breaker bar, but I personally never go that route.

oh yeah theres like 3 threads on this same subject yo,
search ftw

T0ked

iTrader: (2)

On a 300, put a ratchet on the tensioner pulley, turn to the right (towards the battery). When you think you can't push down anymore, push some more and slip the belt off.

Zeal3

iTrader: (1)

dont use a a breaker bar or torque wrench. it will feel like its not gonna budge. but it will

stonewis

iTrader: (1)

I found this. It might help. It's for SC400. http://www.lextreme.com/belt.html

TJohnson

Ok I am no small guy but I am deathly afraid I'm going to break something here. I went back out there today and pulled on it almost as hard as I could and all that happened was the bolt tightened a little bit more. The tensioner does not move in the slightest little bit. What am I missing?

TheMole

iTrader: (13)

Do you have a sc3 or sc4?

With the end of the ratched pointing up...

Push towards the driver's side for the sc3.

Push towards the passenger side for the sc4.


I did it on my sc3 and it took quite a bit of force to hold it so I could slip the new belt over. I slipped a pipe over the ratched and it helped a bit.

TJohnson

It's a 92 SC3 5spd w/ electric fans so I have easy access to the tensioner. I am turning the ratchet towards the driver side VERY hard. I will try a little extension and see if that helps at all. I'm just worried something is going to break.

TheMole

iTrader: (13)

I faced the driver's side of the car and pushed with my left hand. I put a good amount of my body weight (220lbs) on it to hold it down. Once you get it moving, you will feel where you can't push any more. I don't think you even have to push all the way since you may be able to slip the belt off before that. When you let off the tensioner, let off slowly to prevent any damage to the tensioner from letting go too quickly. Slipping the belt on and off should be cake for you since you have electric fans. A bit more of a hassle with the oem fan. Good luck with it.

Ali SC3

iTrader: (10)

when you torque it clockwise, the pulley will move to the left some.

don't aim the wratchet stright up and pull towards the drivers side.
aim the wratchet toward the battery and push down.
it allows the pulley to move left easier.

You said your on electric fans. is the belt routed correctly?
check the diagram on the hood.

Its really kind of funny because I could move mine so easily but for the life of me i couldnt get the bolt to loosen in the other direction.