HOW TO: Change your serpentine belt on a 95-02 2.2L

Classicrocjunkie · 10-30-2004, 02:19 AM

With all the false information people are saying about one of the simplist repairs to do... changing the serpentine belt..I have decided to take 30 min and compile all of this usefull info.. This is valad for 95-97 2.2L and 98-02 2200 SFI......

I will even include a color picture to help everyone figure out where there tensioner is, along with naming the other pullys that the serpentine belt rides on... lets begin...

Brown circle- Power steering
Blue circle- Idler pully
Purple circle- Alternator pully
Green circle- A/C if applicable
Yellow circle- Water Pump pully
Pink circle- Crankshaft Pully

and finally...

Red Arrow points to your tensioner.. get a socket wrench w/o socket and place square end into hole or knotch w/e you want to call it and push down to release pressure, and short breaker bar may also be needed to get you more leverage... if you cannot figure out the tensior from this then you need to consult a mechanic or have a buddy lend you a hand. I would be more than willin to help anyone out in CNY.....other printed on the top of your hood is a diagram on how to re weave the belt on the pullys and on the back of some of the new belt boxes..

Note:
Now on the older 2.2l and 2.0 engines the tensioner is the idler pully, GM found out later down the line that it was best to just add a tensioner instead of using the idler... I don't have an exact year of when they changed becuase i have changed them on 96 with the tensioner and i've been gettin some feed back that 97's haven't so... if you the tensioner above use that and not the idler and if no tensioner use the blue circle... idler pully...Note

A serpentine belt is the only drive "belt" not to be confused with the drive chain, that a cavalier has and its also one of the most overlooked very important parts of your vehicle. Without it.. your basically going nowhere.

How do I know when i need a new belt?...

Here are some signs...

~Noticeable deep v cracks
~High pictched squeeling that only gets louder when more time passes

Over the years while driving my cavy, i have notice when the car starts up there was a squeeling noise comming from that part of the engine while the hood was closed so i took note of it and figured it was nothing. But as more time passed it had gotten worse. So i pyhsically inspected the belt and noticed it was dry rotting and had cracks deeper than allowed by NYS state inspection. So it was time for a new belt. When cracks form in the belt it causes the cracks to slide against eachother causing the annoying noise...

What brands are there?

Personally when i buy somthing that you need to be realiable and good quality cheaper isn't better...

Here are some brands i know of...

GM brand.. buy at dealership
Delco
Goodyear gatorback Poly V

All are of quality and serve their purpose.. Delco has a few differnet quality line ranging in price from 17 here in NY up to 27.99 for their POLY V... I personally run the Goodyear GatorBack POLY V since its the quietest belt made( Personal opinion and their sales pitch but so far its has held true)... After tax it was 32 somthing at Autozone... don't buy it from a goodyear Gemni store...they quoted me 60 somthing...

That basically sums it all up... g'luck and no more misguiding info!

KJRich · 10-31-2004, 08:10 AM

Good write-up.

Langning · 10-31-2004, 01:42 PM

On my 96 2.2 Cav LS, the tensioner is the idler pulley. The belt removing tool is too long to pull down to give me enough slack when putting the new belt on and I needed a low profile (thin) 3/8 ratchet with 15mm (?) hex socket. My Gatorback Poli V belt is only around $20 from my local autozone.

Classicrocjunkie · 10-31-2004, 11:09 PM

prices differ by state and tax... tax here is 8.25%.... and the on the early model 2.2 you have to use the idler, don't you like your gatorback?... i love mine...

public · 10-31-2004, 11:44 PM

Cool write up. Great photo. On the older 2.0 and 2.2 the idler is the tensioner and they have no idler.

I love the gatorback belt. It is the only one that last more than a year here in Fla.

jaccardi · 06-28-2005, 11:19 AM

Man, I really appreciate this. I needed this information after replacing my alternator. Thank you.

johno1 · 06-28-2005, 06:42 PM

Need help in getting the idler puller tensioner loose. ANy tips, tricks would help. Used Wd 40. have a 97 2.2L. Belt came off. got the new belt on except around the idler.

Classicrocjunkie · 06-28-2005, 09:30 PM

You need an angled box wrench, its going to require a little effort. I remembered i was only able to get 3 fingers on the wrench itself and oh boy were my fingers hurting after that. G'luck.

johno1 · 06-28-2005, 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johno1

Need help in getting the idler puller tensioner loose. ANy tips, tricks would help. Used Wd 40. have a 97 2.2L. Belt came off. got the new belt on except around the idler.

Thanks for the advise. Son is at school so we'll give it a go in the morning. Give the results...good or bad sometime tomorrow. Out

johno1 · 06-30-2005, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Classicrocjunkie

You need an angled box wrench, its going to require a little effort. I remembered i was only able to get 3 fingers on the wrench itself and oh boy were my fingers hurting after that. G'luck.

Got the idler pulley moved, but belt still will not fit. Is there a sequence on how the belt goes on? for instance, does the belt
go over the idler last? Since it does not wrap around the idler (about an inch to go before it fits snuggly) do you use some kind of lever
to slide the belt over the idler?

KustmAce · 06-30-2005, 08:25 PM

Thanks for the info Cody! Consider it stuck'd

Jjman969 · 07-24-2005, 06:15 PM

since the 97's 2.2's are quite a bit diff than that diagram if anyone needs a diagram for a 97 i got one

daveb2012 · 08-29-2005, 11:37 PM

wow man thanks so much for making this I have been spending the 2 days trying to find out where the tensioner pulley bolt was, I think Im not affraid to get a new serpentine belt now too, I purposely had to stretch it off because I couldn't release the tension. thanks a lot man.

daveb2012 · 08-29-2005, 11:49 PM

actually I have a 97, now im confused again.

jstillings · 08-30-2005, 01:49 PM

This is a great thread and helpful picture. I need to change a water pump and have been struggling with getting the serp belt off first.

My '96 Cav 2.2L does not have the tensioner - so from your post I assume the tension is applied by the idler. Question is how to release the tension on the idler. I have the 15mm center bolt on the idler pulley almost loose, but am hesitant to take it out with the belt loaded... is there a release mechanism on the idler ass'y somewhere?

BTW, as you indicated, it took a lot of very small turns with an offset 15mm wrench to get the nut loose - not a lot of room in there.

thanks in advance.

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