'87 tensioner/belt problems

[elladine]

i had to replace my alternator and i got it all replaced fine but now, for the life of me, i can't get the serpentine belt back on. it's the same size and all that as my old belt (i bought a new belt cause my other one wasn't much good) and i push the tensioner down but it's not enough to slip the belt back onto the alternator. no matter what i do i can't get the belt back on. i have A/C in my car so i gotta put the belt around that too, but i dunno it just makes it seem like my belt is too short, when it's not. maybe i'm not pushing the tensioner down enough? any ideas?

[kok328]

I believe your suppose to use an 18mm socket or maybe just a 1/2" drive rachet to completely move the tensioner.

Also, double check your belt routing. I believe there should be a belt diagram somewhere under the hood.

[elladine]

well the only thing that fit it is a 19/32 wrench. how my car is you can't fit a rachet into it, there are some small metal pipes in the way. and we checked the routing so many times i have it memorized front to back. it can move, jsut not enough for enough slack to fit the belt on. so could it be my tensioner is broken or something?

[elladine]

well i got it fixed. thanks for the help anyway though =)