'87 tensioner/belt problems

i had to replace my alternator and i got it all replaced fine but now, for the life of me, i can't get the serpentine belt back on. it's the same size and all that as my old belt (i bought a new belt cause my other one wasn't much good) and i push the tensioner down but it's not enough to slip the belt back onto the alternator. no matter what i do i can't get the belt back on. i have A/C in my car so i gotta put the belt around that too, but i dunno it just makes it seem like my belt is too short, when it's not. maybe i'm not pushing the tensioner down enough? any ideas?

I believe your suppose to use an 18mm socket or maybe just a 1/2" drive rachet to completely move the tensioner.

Also, double check your belt routing. I believe there should be a belt diagram somewhere under the hood.

well the only thing that fit it is a 19/32 wrench. how my car is you can't fit a rachet into it, there are some small metal pipes in the way. and we checked the routing so many times i have it memorized front to back. it can move, jsut not enough for enough slack to fit the belt on. so could it be my tensioner is broken or something?

well i got it fixed. thanks for the help anyway though =)