alero trouble!!!

First off hello to everyone on the boards.I have a 1999 alero i cannot for the love of good gravy figure out how to relieve the belt tension so i can replace the belt and alternator.I have a 94 probe gt which i easily relieved the tension with one bolt.But this has me stumped.Any advice would really be appreciated.Thanx.

The belt tensioner is below the alternator. I can't remember exactly, but as soon as you find the right size of wrench to use, pull it towards you and the belt loosens. That's for the V6 anyway...

Jeremy

I believe it's a 3/8" socket drive fit into the belt tensioner. I used a break bar with a long handle that way I could also get good leverage on it. One side note, when I did mine (2000 GLS V6) I had to undo a motor mount and get a cherry picker to hold the engine up to pass the belt through. Maybe I missed something, but I didn't see any other way to get the belt off without passing it through the motor mount on the left side. Any other ideas any one?

I believe it's a 3/8" socket drive fit into the belt tensioner. I used a break bar with a long handle that way I could also get good leverage on it. One side note, when I did mine (2000 GLS V6) I had to undo a motor mount and get a cherry picker to hold the engine up to pass the belt through. Maybe I missed something, but I didn't see any other way to get the belt off without passing it through the motor mount on the left side. Any other ideas any one?

No, that's correct, we had to do the same when we put in a GoodYear Gatorback drive belt.

Thanks everyone.So do i need to adjust the tension after i put the belt and alt.back if so how?I can't see any way to adjust the tension.Espiecally(sp)for the alternator cause the mount seems set in stone.thanks again you guys really helped.p.s.you are right about the motor mount.THANK YOU GM!!!!!!!!! :banghead:

You shouldn't have to adjust the belt tensioner at all. It's spring loaded with force to apply the proper amount tension. That's why you use a breaker bar to get good leverage on it. Otherwise if you use a short handle socket wrench, it's a b*tch to get and your knuckles will suffer. As "bnaylor3400" mentioned, I would recommend buying the "gatorback version" of the serpentine belt. It runs about $35, but the design claims it last longer the a typical v-groove belt (less cracking, better wear). If your are keeping the car a while it might be a good investment. How many times do you want to disconnect a motor mount to raise the engine to replace the serpertine belt. ME, ONCE.

By the way, I did mine when I replaced the infamous "LIM GASKET". Hell,if you have half the engine tore apart, might as well do what you can when you can.

is it a 4 or 6 cylinder, they differ a bit when releasing the tension.

Its a 3.4 v6...Ok so i decided not to change the belt rite now but i did replace the alternator..........now im not getting the same amount of tension and the tension arm is making a vibrating noise when i put the car in gear (sometimes while its idleing).I did what everyone said i don't think i screwed anything up.But if i loosen the arm it stops the noise.But it seems like theres very little tension.The belt kinda flaps behind the alt.How much tension should there be??When belt seems tight is when the noise starts....loose nothing.this is friggin unbelievable!

I'm going to through out a couple guess's

#1 Is it possible through the Alt swap the belt got stretched a bit to cause it to become loose.

#2 Did you check to make sure that the belt is seating on all the pulleys and in the correct order. That can make a huge difference. Check it against a diagram if you have access to it.

#3 My worst case scenario would be the tensioner took a crap!

You know i think it is the tensioner.I checked and double checked to mak sure everything was lined up on all the pulleys and i never really stretched the belt.Its the noise that the tensioner is making thats got me thinkin thats what it is.And now its back to>> :banghead:

spidey420-where is bridgeport by? Im in Medina.
bnaylor3400- i agree, the gaterback belt is great, i have that on my car, and i had to get a jack to hold the engine to remove one og my motor mounts, not an easy job, but its like anything else, it has to get done. If that goes, you dont.

I'm right across the river from wheeling w.va.As a matter of fact my wife was born in wadsworth oh.in medina county.

Im always down in wadsworth. Im about 10 min from there.