I NEED HELP !! alternator replacement

[Tom94gaGT]

Hi, my alternator just took a crap, so i bought a new one, pulled the old one out and bolted in the new one but i cant get the belt back on. what it the best way to get it back on?? thanks for any help.

PS--3.1 v6, 1994 grand am

[diazepam]

dunno if your 94 is the same as my 99 (3.4/v6) but i use a 3/8 drive ratchet inserted into the belt tensioner to remove/replace the drive belt ... hope this helps.

[wagnerl]

To keep the belt tensioned there is the "belt tensioner", it is a pulley that can have its support arm rotated around 30 degrees, move with the help of a large wrench. Sometimes you need two persons to do that, one to move the pulley (spring is strong) and another person to position the belt. Make sure the belt grooves fit perfectly over the pulleys - no groove skiped.

[Tom94gaGT]

thanks for all the help...actually i got so frustrated with it taht i had AAA tow it to a mechanic, and he only charged me $10 to put the belt on..seems like the preferred way to go if anybody else has a problem with teh serpentine belt!