How to remove the drive belt on a '96 2.2L?

[melissalou]

My wife has a 1996 Cavalier with the 2.2L engine in it. The alternator has crapped out and I need to replace it before trying to sell the car. I've determined where the tensioner pulley is, but what is a good method for pivoting the pulley to loosen the drive belt? I know that I need a 15mm wrench, but the clearance in that area is very tight. Any tricks?

I'm used to rear wheel drives with automatic tensioners (the pry bar kind).

Thanks in advance,

Andy

[melissalou]

Well, I was successful with loosening my drive belt. I ended up buying a nice serpentine belt removal tool from Sears.

I have to say something though, my post was viewed 11 times and I didn't get a single reply about something as simple as a drive belt removal. You'd think that with the numerous posts I see on this site about adding hot rod parts and performing mods on a Cavalier (I could go on about that subject as well - but I won't) that someone would have offered some advice.

Thanks for nothing.

[sweetwhiteCAV]

Okay, I'll post this for future belt-removers to see....

1) Using a wrench, rotate the tensioner pulley counter clockwise to release tension in the belt
2) Remove the belt from auxilary components and slowly release the tensioner

Yes its that simple..... so, your welcome for nothing.

[Auto Doc]

Wrong sweet white cav. You rotate the tensioner pulley clockwise, you'd be hard pressed to get it to go the other way, and I'll just say you're welcome.

Originally Posted by sweetwhiteCAV

Okay, I'll post this for future belt-removers to see....

1) Using a wrench, rotate the tensioner pulley counter clockwise to release tension in the belt
2) Remove the belt from auxilary components and slowly release the tensioner

Yes its that simple..... so, your welcome for nothing.

[STYLEZ24]

Regardless of the direction, its that easy...

[Auto Doc]

Originally Posted by STYLEZ24

Regardless of the direction, its that easy...

Sorry, I didn't know you and the sweet white cav had a thing going. Move to NY or San Fran and you can get married. Regardless it's that easy.

[STYLEZ24]

WTF are you talking about?

Newbies... :o/

[chevycav96]

"but the clearance in that area is very tight. Any
tricks?"

The trick is NOT to use a regular "straight" or flat wrench. You need to use an offset wrench or a "z or s" shaped wrench (15 mm). This fits into the clearance just.

Here's another trick. Don't try to slip the belt over the tensioner last. Slip the belt over the tensioner after routing it over the other pulleys, pull the tensioner all the way back, then slip the belt over the stationary pulley located at the top, back of the engine last.
Trying to slip the belt over the tensioner while pulling it back with the wrench on the tensioner is a pain.

[KustmAce]

Originally Posted by melissalou

Well, I was successful with loosening my drive belt. I ended up buying a nice serpentine belt removal tool from Sears.

I have to say something though, my post was viewed 11 times and I didn't get a single reply about something as simple as a drive belt removal. You'd think that with the numerous posts I see on this site about adding hot rod parts and performing mods on a Cavalier (I could go on about that subject as well - but I won't) that someone would have offered some advice.

Thanks for nothing.

Hey, calm down. You waited ONE day, and it was only viewed 11 times.

Ive had threads go without a reply for a week with several hundred views. Its called patience, get some.

[Classicrocjunkie]

Nothing like bringing an old post back from the dead... but yeah... chill out.. Buy a haynes repair manual and read... there is more to it than just lookin at picuture.... we all had to read knowledge on things at one point or another..... I've done one a 1 a.m. before with a freakin mini mag drunk off my ass.... i stll was sober enough to change one a my buddies sunfire who picked my drunk ass up... i thought it was the least i could do for him commin to get me...

[KustmAce]

Jeez, didnt even see the date.