Belt tensioner

jcoogs · 10-10-2008, 03:50 PM

I apologize for posting twice in a week, but I'm at the end of my rope. I needed to replace the alternator on my 01 Alero. That's easy enough. However, I needed to loosen the serpentine belt in order to get to it. Fine. It took me a bit to find the belt tensioner, but I found it and started loosening the bolt with my ratchet. As I loosened it, the little metal nub that holds it steady came out of its groove, the belt tensioner popped out of place and the belt was slack. I replaced the alternator. Now- how do I get the blasted belt back on???? More to the point, how do I get the belt tensioner into the position where I can put the belt back on? It seems like I would need either superhuman strength or a square shaped socket for my ratchet. The Haynes manual and the internet have been utterly useless. The Auto Zone rents out what is basically just a big ratchet set and calls it a serpentine belt tensioner tool. No one knows what I'm talking about. This is a picture of the part I'm referring to:
http://www.1aauto.com/1A/SerpentineB...BT00014/681717

jcoogs · 10-10-2008, 04:20 PM

It was sort of like a crossword puzzle. Stare at it long enough and the answer will come to you. Thanks.

rustyballs_69 · 10-10-2008, 07:00 PM

You didn't have to take the tensioner off. They is a spot were you can put a 3/8 ratchet to push the tensioner. Then you pull the belt off. Put the tesioner back on. There is a groove for the spring so you can't really do it wrong.

Beholder88 · 10-10-2008, 07:15 PM

AutoZone or any other parts store makes a handy tool just for that purpose. Some ratches won't fit between the tensioner and the frame(on the V6 model anyway) the tool is pretty much just a flat piece of metal with a 3\8" square piece of metal welded to it. Works great.

Redog · 10-10-2008, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rustyballs_69

You didn't have to take the tensioner off. They is a spot were you can put a 3/8 ratchet to push the tensioner. Then you pull the belt off. Put the tesioner back on. There is a groove for the spring so you can't really do it wrong.

I striped mine

I thought it would rachet or something, I kept going back and forth with it.

I have a replacement, just never got around to putting it in

rustyballs_69 · 10-11-2008, 12:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Redog

I striped mine

I thought it would rachet or something, I kept going back and forth with it.

I have a replacement, just never got around to putting it in

A pry bar works just as well.

cavaliers60 · 10-11-2008, 12:07 AM

lol I only paid $25 for my new tensioner.... I ended up having to spend $400 to get it fixed though cause for some reason, the threads broke in the motor.... grrr....

rustyballs_69 · 10-11-2008, 12:16 AM

You payed $400 to get broken bolts pulled out of the block?

cavaliers60 · 10-11-2008, 12:18 AM

it was the threads inside the block that broke.... they had to seal it in and they also did a couple other things for me... I also got a window regulator replaced.... so really I only paid 200 or so for the tensionor.....

rustyballs_69 · 10-11-2008, 12:23 AM

A drill and an easy out works wonders for broken bolts.

cavaliers60 · 10-11-2008, 12:41 AM

It wasn't the bolt! It was the mount in the motor!

the bolt was perfectly fine.

super white alero1 · 10-11-2008, 09:57 AM

Read the cavalier's post again guys, The bolt wasn't broken the thread is damage on the block. there is no easy way to drill and tap the hole when the engine is still in the car, even using a 90* drill.

Cavalier the tensioner assembly has a guide pin for you to line up to the block during install. If that is lined up the bolt should go in easily. Once that is in use a 15mm socket or a tension tool to install the belt. This could be rented from any part store.

rustyballs_69 · 10-11-2008, 04:03 PM

Yeah I read it wrong, the hole was striped out.

cavaliers60 · 10-11-2008, 04:17 PM

lol it's cool. I used the correct tool and even had my friend there who is a mech student at VU..... it was just a fluke that happened.... We had no idea what happened or why it did. But oh well. She is fixed and running smooth. Now I just need to get a new window regulator and clips for my drivers window. lol, everytime I roll the window up, it tilts slightly forward. Sometimes it bounces a bit and doesn't roll up all the way...........

Cliff8928 · 10-12-2008, 01:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by super white alero1

Read the cavalier's post again guys, The bolt wasn't broken the thread is damage on the block.

The bolt actually goes into the cylinder head, not the block.