My car Broke down last night ...

[mFLiP91]

Is it hard to swap out the belt pulley tensioner? I was driving on 95 last night, when I went to change lanes I couldn't turn right or left (no power steering), When I got the car over on the side of the road the battery light was on and the Temp needle was all the way up in the red, I pop the hood open and the belt that goes to the alternator was just laying there, also I seen coolant under the car coming from the overfill tank. As you can see below its bent.


Is it hard to fix this by myself? And why did it overheat? Thanks for any helpful answers.

97 GP GTP 118000 miles

[Scrapper]

is that a new alt. that was put on not to long ago? if so looks like a bolt came out or real loose to bend i figure it's the brace it sets in that is bent? if you have to replce tensioner just loosen the bolt that runs threw it should come right off and should be able to straiten the brace if not go to salvage yard and get one....good luck....

[Fortune50]

Yes, that tensioner pulley can be replaced. Most parts stores will have it. Here's a picture of the supercharged version of the GM 3800 and it will have the same accessory locations & accessory belt set up as your '97 GTP. Just be sure that the tensioner itself is ok. Also, that bolt is most likely reverse threaded, so turn the wrench clockwise to loosen it.

So far as the overheating goes, if the serpentine belt came off, then the waterpump is not getting spun by the belt to keep the engine coolant flowing.

[richtazz]

Just to confirm, the bolt is left hand threaded, so you'll need to turn it clockwise to loosen, and counter-clockwise to tighten. It should take you less than 5 minutes to change it and the serp belt. Inspect the gap between the spring loaded arm and the tensioner mount. If it is uneven, or if the spring loaded arm has any lateral freeplay, I would strongly suggest changing the entire tensioner assembly.

[CrazyHorst]

Originally Posted by richtazz

It should take you less than 5 minutes to change it and the serp belt.

Removing the coolant overflow bottle (temporarily...just release the upper "self tapping nuts" and do not disconnect the hose) is a great idea as it allows access for your hands and a light.

Also being an L67 the S/C belt must also be removed temporarily.

[grandprixgtx00]

Originally Posted by CrazyHorst

Removing the coolant overflow bottle (temporarily...just release the upper "self tapping nuts" and do not disconnect the hose) is a great idea as it allows access for your hands and a light.

Also being an L67 the S/C belt must also be removed temporarily.

on a '97 the reservior is not located by the belt, so removing that is not needed.