'97 Jimmy Serpentine Belt Replacement

[mwaldrp]

I am in the process of replacing a worn out serpentine belt on my '97 air conditioned Jimmy. I had no trouble removing the old belt but am not able to pull the tensioner far enough to install the new one. I simply don't have enough hands. Is there something I am missing? Or is there an easier way to install the new belt?

[94 Jimmy]

If you mean that the belt is too short, I had the same problem. It appears that the belt specified in many of the parts catalogs is wrong or they use the same belt for several different configurations. I finally had to try a bunch of different ones in the parking lot of my friendly Autozone. I have a 94 Jimmy with a 4.3L and it uses a K060938 belt. This means that there are 6 ribs and its 93.8" long.
Rockauto.com shows belts of K060938, 940, 955, and 956 for the 94. For your 97 they show belts from K060870, 875, and 960. You might want to check Rockauto out they have a pretty good selection and it's easy to navigate.

Now if your just having trouble getting the belt over all the pullies, welcome to the club. I have found that if I seat the belt on all of the pullies I can slip the remaining loop of belt over the tensioner with just a little to spare. Watch that you don't get your fingers between the belt and the tensioner,if the wrench slips it'll squash your pinkie. It's inportant that you get the belt seated on the pullies , the extra you use up will make the belt seem too short.
Good luck
94

[mwaldrp]

Nevermind, I got it.

[mwaldrp]

Thanks 94 Jimmy, that was very helpful and informative.

[excheezhead]

for others or if you have to replace the serpentine belt, the old school way is to take a roll of string, tape it to a spot you can reach easily on the outside of the belt, or get a friend to hold it without moving it, and follow the belt everywhere the belt goes, outside measurment style, mark the string, and tell the parts guy the length, if you don't think the new belt is right, right there in the store, whip out the string, and check. also, remember, the new belt is factory new and is not worn and streched like the old one, it may just be a liitle tighter to get back on.

been there, done that, got the coffee cup!!
excheezhead.