97 grand prix 3800 - Serpentine Belt keeps shredding

[kandrewt]

I have a 97 grand prix 3800 SE model. The serpentine belt went on me last week. I put a new one on thinking that the belt was just old and that why it shredded (like a twizzler being peeled). Well sure enough, the day after the serpentine belt shredded again while driving! same type of shred as the last one. I asked my mecahnic friend to take a quick look at it if had a minute, and he quickly looked at it and tested the pulleys and said they all moved fine. He thought i just bought a bad belt so we replaced it with a new one. Well sure enough, the next day it shredded on me again! Obviosuly there is a bigger issue at hand.

I asked my parent's mecahnic and he said it was related to the tensioner being tilted on the outside causeing the belt to "walk" thus being shredded like it is. Does anyone here have any idea or agree that is the tensioner?

Do i just need to replace the tensioner and that should call it a day? or is there bigger concerns... thanks so much.

[GTP Dad]

Welcome to AF!!!

The tensioner is a good bet and isn't that expensive to replace and only takes a couple of hand tools to do the job. The mechanic is being straight with you (the second one) in that the tensioner is misaligned and is causing the belt to shred. Replace it, use a good belt and you shouldn't have any other belt issues.

[richtazz]

There is coolant that passes through the tensioner body, so make sure the car is cooled off before changing it. If you've never changed the t-stat, now would be a good time to do it since the cooling system is open. Lastly, there is a plastic elbow that goes from the lower intake to the tensioner that is a common problem on the 3800 series-II. Go to the dealer and buy a new one, as it will most likely break when you remove the tensioner. Dorman makes an aftermarket replacement elbow, but I'd suggest against it, as it is inferior quality (normally Dorman products are quality stuff) and are known to crack/leak along the plastic mold seam.

[kandrewt]

thanks alot on the replies... very helpful. I will probably get a chance to take a look at my car this weekend, and ill try replacing the tensioner as well as the plastic elbow. I do have coolant leak issue, i just refill the radiator every week to two weeks or so and haven't had issues, and i know i should get it looked at, but im afraid its going to be a bigger issue than i can handle right now.

Is there any way the coolant leak is related to the bad tensioner or maybe the elbow peice is cracked? like i said i have to refill the radiotor and resevoir tank every 1 to 2 weeks to keep it from overheating. thanks.