Replacing 2001 Esteem Belt Tensioner Pulley

PLEASE HELP!!

Belt tensioner on my 2001 1.8 Esteem needs to be replaced to remedy squeak. I have a brand new gates pulley (wheel + spring assembly) from Napa. How on earth do I remove the old one and get it out of there???

It seems the engine might need to be lifted to fully remove the old pulley and insert the new one. That would be terrible.

Any advice on how to do this would be most appreciated

Thanks

- Mick

I just changed one on a '01 Esteem.
You do have to lift the front of the engine.
I used a short 2X4 on the pad of a floor jack and lifted the engine by the oil pan.
First loosen the pulley bolt as far as you can, support the engine using the floor jack, remove the front motor mount bolt (the long one holding the two half's together), and then raise the front of the engine.
Do not allow the front of the car to start raising up when jacking up the engine. That will put too much weight on the oil pan.
You will have just enough clearance to finish removing the bolt and install the new pulley.
After the new pulley is installed, lower the engine so you can reinstall the motor mount bolt, remove the floor jack, and install the belt.
I have found that the easiest way to install the belt is from the bottom, but I have a lift, so you may have to put the front of the car on jack stands or figure out how to install the belt from the top.

Good luck.

Oh, by the way, I changed the pulley only.
If the spring still works, change the pulley only.