serpentine belt

Just tried to replace my serpentine belt on 96 Regal 3.8 engine. Not the same tensioner as other GM products that I am used to. How do I get the tension off? Does it require some sort of special tool?

I think the 3800 is the same across the board...use a 18mm socket with a breaker bar

Fig. 13: Use an 18mm box end wrench on the pulley nut to rotate the tensioner on the 3.8L engine


with a breaker bar

I think the 3800 is the same across the board...use a 18mm socket with a breaker bar

Well, I thought that too, but when I put the 18mm socket on it, it refuses to tighten down. I can back it all the way out (reverse thread by the way) but I can't get it to tighten. That means that I can't get any leverage on it to compress the spring. Any ideas?

Are you just trying to change the belt? If so, then there isn't a need to remove the tensioner. With the 18mm socket attached to a breaker bar or whatever you want to use turn counterclockwise. This will bring the tensioner up, releaving pressure from the belt. Slip the belt off the nearest pulley. You can now remove the belt from the remaining pulleys. Installation is the reverse.

All of the posts seem to be on the same track. My tensioner must be broken. The bold that goes through the pulley is loose, I can't get it to tighten down. Can't get to the rear of the pulley to check for a nut, but pretty sure that there is not one. It seems to be stripped threads on the bolt. If I use a ratchet I can (turning clockwise) back the bolt out a lot. Then, if I reverse the ratchet I can continue to turn the bolt. It moves into the pulley, but never hits the end of the threads. Since it won't tighten, I can't get pressure on it to move the spring. Guess I'll have to take it in to the dealer. (I hate that)