- Disconnect the negative battery cable.
- Loosen the tension adjustment bolt with a socket wrench and remove the drive belt.
- Remove the retaining bolt to release the idler pulley.
- Compare your old idler pulley with your new pulley to check you have the correct replacement.
Full Answer
How do I loosen belt tensioner?
To Remove:
- Before servicing the vehicle refer to the precautions at the beginning of this section.
- Rotate the tensioner counterclockwise.
- Remove the drive belt.
How do you replace a belt tensioner?
How to Replace a Serpentine Belt Tensioner
- To begin, some front wheel drive vehicles need to have the engine supported before tensioner removal.
- Once the engine is safely supported, remove engine mount retainer nuts.
- Next, remove the main engine mount bolts, the engine will become loose during this step.
- Once all mounting bolts and nuts have been removed the engine mount can be removed.
How often should a belt tensioner be replaced?
There is no recommended timeframe in which to replace your tensioner, especially as the belt itself usually needs replacing before the tensioner does. The manufacturer recommends checking the serpentine belt every 7,500 miles or 6 months for potential replacement due to normal wear.
Do I need to replace the belt tensioner?
^^^^ Good advice above. It's a good idea to replace the tensioner and idler when you change the belt. At your mileage they've got some wear on the bearings. You can buy all the parts as a kit and save a little money. Try Rockauto, Genos Garage, Amazon. Spin all the other bearings on the belt to make sure they're good - especially the water pump.
How do you release the tension on a drive belt?
0:000:56Cool trick to release belt tension - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd you can see that the belt gets loose. Okay pulling down belt gets loose you can get a little bitMoreAnd you can see that the belt gets loose. Okay pulling down belt gets loose you can get a little bit more of a better position to make the belt a little bit looser.
Which way do you turn a tensioner pulley?
Use the extension/breaker bar on the grooved pulley tensioner arm, rotate the tensioner counter clockwise to remove the pin/bolt. Slowly allow the tensioner to rotate in a clockwise direction until the tensioner reaches the low stop. Remove the three bolts that attach the tensioner to the engine.
How do you loosen a timing belt tensioner?
Here are the basic steps to adjusting the timing belt tensioner:Remove the cover from the timing belt.Loosen the bolts that secure the tensioner using a wrench.Confirm that the tensioner has light contact with the timing belt.Adjust the belt with its proper alignments (see timing marks on cam, crank, sprockets)
How do you use a tensioner pulley tool?
0:171:21Drive belt tensioner took installation - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe upper half of the tensioner tool to lower half and lock it into place then apply pressure to theMoreThe upper half of the tensioner tool to lower half and lock it into place then apply pressure to the tensioner tool relieving tension on the engine belt gently remove the engine belt.
What tool do you use on the tensioner pulley?
The CRAFTSMAN® Serpentine Belt Tool provides the leverage and clearance needed to remove the tensioner pulley that holds the belt in place. The long handle and extension allows the tool to service a wide variety of vehicles.
What happens if serpentine belt is to tight?
If the belt is too tight, it will cause excessive side loads and overheat the bearings. This in turn causes noise, decreased output and even the seizing of the alternator. If the belt is too loose, it will cause the alternator to slip. This slipping can cause the alternator and the battery to work harder.
What is drive belt tensioner?
A drive belt tensioner is a pulley mounted on a spring mechanism or adjustable pivot point that is used to keep tension on the engine belts. Spring tensioners are designed to tension automatically while the pivot design types can be adjusted manually.
Is the idler pulley and tensioner pulley the same?
The primary distinction between tensioners and idler pulleys is the presence of an adjustable bolt. Tensioners are positioned on the bolt through mounting. Idler pulleys are not mounted to an adjustable bolt. However, the differences between idler pulleys and tensioners also extend to purpose.
How do I know if my belt tensioner needs replacing?
Appearance: Cycle the tensioner (mounted on the engine) through the entire range of motion (from stop to stop) by applying torque to the arm with a wrench. The tensioner arm should move smoothly and freely. Solution: If you notice a binding, sticking or grinding tensioner arm, the tensioner should be replaced.
How do you reverse a pulley rotation?
Sometimes it is necessary to reverse the rotation of the driven pulley wheel in relation to the driver pulley. If the driver is rotating in an anti-clockwise direction the driven pulley may be required to rotate in a clockwise direction. This is achieved by twisting the belt as shown in the diagram above.
Which way does a serpentine belt spin?
Are Serpentine Belts Directional? Because nearly all serpentine belts are symmetrical, a new belt's direction of rotation usually doesn't matter. What does matter, though, is that the new belt is routed correctly around the pulleys. It's also important that the grooved side of the belt faces toward the pulley grooves.
How do you know which pulley is misaligned?
1:593:04Water Spray Test for Pulley Misalignment - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipLook for the next shortest belt span and spray again where the belt enters the second pulley in theMoreLook for the next shortest belt span and spray again where the belt enters the second pulley in the span. If the noise goes away and then returns. You have identified the location of the misalignment.
How do I know if my pulley is aligned?
1:323:44Using a Laser Alignment Tool to Check Pulley Alignment - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSecond turn on the laser. And place the tool base into the pulley grooves closest to you that is theMoreSecond turn on the laser. And place the tool base into the pulley grooves closest to you that is the pulley grooves that are the farthest away from the engine or the accessory.
How to loosen a drive belt?
If your drive belt has stretched, it should be replaced. Depending on the vehicle, there are a number of ways you may be able to loosen the tension on the drive belt. A tensioner pulley can be loosened by inserting a breaker bar or socket wrench into the hole in the center of the pulley and twisting it clockwise. In other vehicles, you will need to loosen the alternator bolts and either tip it forward or slide it toward the motor within its bracket to loosen the belt.
How to tighten alternator belt?
Place enough force on the pry bar to pull the drive belt until it is tight over the alternator pulley.
How to adjust alternator angle?
Loosen the bolts attaching the alternator to the bracket. Many alternators are bolted to a bracket with a long slotted metal strap that allows you to adjust the angle of the alternator in relation to the engine. By loosening the bolts, you will be able to adjust the alternator’s angle to increase or decrease tension on the drive belt.
What is a drive belt?
Learn more... The drive belt, or serpentine belt as it is often called, transfers power from the crank pulley to each of the accessories in your engine. In some vehicles, the drive belt also serves as a timing belt, keeping the movement of the cylinders in sync with the valves and other components of the cylinder head.
How to install a tensioner?
Start by inserting a half inch drive breaker bar or ratchet into the hole in the center of the pulley. Twist the breaker bar clockwise to reduce the tension in the belt. This may not be particularly difficult if your tensioner has broken.
How to pull drive belt over alternator?
Place enough force on the pry bar to pull the drive belt until it is tight over the alternator pulley. Choose the area of the engine you pry against carefully to ensure you do not crush any coolant lines or electrical connections. ...
Why does my drive belt snake through pulleys?
The drive belt likely snakes through a number of pulleys in order to power multiple accessories within your car.
How to remove a belt from a belt tensioner?
Hold the tension from the belt, and slip the belt off the auto tensioner pulley to remove the belt and pulley system. Slowly release the tension to avoid damage or injury, and then remove the tool from the belt auto tensioner.
How to remove tensioner pulley on serpentine belt?
Its pulley is usually smooth while the other pulleys are grooved. The way to remove tension will be to pivot the tensioner using a tool (1) on the nut of the tensioner pulley, or (2) a special tool-lug outcropping from the tensioner or (3) in a square opening in the bracket of the tensioner pulley, cover or cap that protects the spring. (There is often an idler pulley in the system which looks rather similar to the tensioner pulley -- but it is not a tensioning device, not spring loaded).
What is the hole in the center of a pulley?
The single belt loops around all the different pulleys on your engine, but one pulley has a tensioner arm, which will be the only pulley the has a square, 3/8-inch hole in the center. That hole is for a 3/8-in ch ratchet nub, the part that holds the socket.
What belts are used to drive the air conditioning system?
Learn more... Today's modern vehicles use a serpentine belt to drive the air conditioning system, alternator, water pump, smog pump and power steering pump. Previously, these systems used multiple belts on pulley systems with a number of ways to manually tighten the belts. The serpentine belt system consists of only one belt ...
What is wikihow similar to?
wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, volunteer authors worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been viewed 136,934 times. Learn more... Today's modern vehicles use a serpentine belt to drive the air conditioning system, ...
How many belts are in a serpentine belt?
The serpentine belt system consists of only one belt and one automatic belt tensioner. The process is often tricky with various manufacturer's designs, but is not very difficult and may be done using basic hand tools.
Can you push down on a belt?
Push or pull, logically: You may push down on the tool handle -- if the belt is over the tensioner pulley -- or pull up, if the belt passes under the tension pulley (but not necessarily, as that direction depends on the design and orientation of the tensioner and the belt).
Why is a belt tensioner important?
The belt tensioner in your car is an important component. It maintains the correct tension on the drive belts. This helps facilitate the transmission of power to the different accessories of your car.
Why does my alternator not work?
Since the belt tensioner keeps the proper spinning of the drive belts in the car’s engine, certain components or accessories may fail to operate if there’s a problem with the tensioner. For instance, the alternator may not work. If this happens, then you will not be able to power up your car’s electrical components.
What is a spring tensioner?
Spring tensioners operate automatically. This means it adjusts the tension on the drive belts without external manipulation. The belt tensioner in your car consists of four principal parts. These include the pulley, the tensioner arm, the spring, and the base. The pulley is what allows the movement of the drive belt.
Why does my drive belt wear out?
This can be due different causes. One of the more important reasons of unusual belt wear is a problem in the pulley of the drive belt tensioner. If the pulley is problematic, it can lead to the fraying of the drive belt’s edges.
How to tell if a belt tensioner is loose?
Squeaking or Grinding Noise. One of the most common symptoms of a failing belt tensioner is unusual noise coming from either the tensioner or the drive belts. If the drive belt noise resembles a squeal or a squeak, it is possible that the belt tensioner is loose.
Why does my drive belt make a squeaking noise?
Since the tensioner is not able to maintain the correct tension on the belts, it produces a squealing or squeaking sound. This is most evident on the drive belts. If the noise you hear is similar to a grinding sound, then it is possible that the tensioner bearings or the tensioner pulley is the problem.
What causes pulley wear?
The grooved surfaces should not have debris or any other particle within the grooves. The groove’s high points should also be equal in height. One major cause of pulley wear is the wearing of drive belt into the pulley .
