96 GA 2.4L - Help Replacing Serpentine Belt

[donnap1957]

I got it off, and the new one is routed except around the tensioner. Am I suppose to be able to get it on by releasing the tensioner? I have but still can't get it on.

[showstopper_88220]

Yeah these are a pain in the butt to put on. how I usually do mine is to have someone else hold the belt on the crank pulley while I route the belt around the alternator and the a/c compressor. You have to hold the tensioner as far back as it will go to let the belt slide on it. Once you get the belt on it release the tensioner.

[donnap1957]

You don't undue the motor mount bolts?

[vtjvt]

no need to undue the motor mount bolts, I usually route mine around the tensioner and the once I release the tensioner I put it around the altenator, takes all,of 5 minutes once you get the hang of it.

My car is also a 96 gase with a 2.4

[donnap1957]

Thank you all for your help. There are a couple secrets that do make this easier. Releasing the top 3 bolts on the motor mount does provide a little extra room but the advice that did the trick is using a cheater wrench. That is the only way to get the room you need to crank the tensioner.