96 3.0L serpentine belt problems

Hello, I removed the idle pulley to get the belt off, and now for the life of me I can not get the new belt back on. I am wondering if it has something to do with the tension pully?? I checked the belt lengths and they are the same, acutually the thing the new belt is a tad longer..anywas can someone please help me.

you don'tt pull the belt by removing the idler pulley , you are supposed to pull on the tensioner pull and this will slacken the belt , the reinstall would be the reverse.

You need to get your hands on a serp belt tensioner tool. This is a 3-foot long, flat bar, with a socket head on one end. Use the skinny 15mm socket on the pulley bolt of the tensioner and rotate clockwise to loosen the belt. Good luck!

Got it back on!
You can use a 15mm socket and undo the tensioner from behind. Have to do it by feel but really helps get the new belt on. Then you just tighten up the tensioner. Worked for me. Thanks for your replys.