Serpentine Belt Change

[JThacker]

Does anyone have good pics/instructions on how to change the serpentine belt, also tips would be appreciated. I searched the forum and didn't see any pictures, a picture would help a lot, thanks in advance. Jay

 

[formula]

A long breaker bar for the tensioner will help. The belt needs to come off of the backside of the tensioner pulley toward the engine block. It's a real booger but it will slide out of there. Having the engine cold will be more friendly on the hands



Sean

 

[GaryCarter]

At least you don't have to wrap it around the front of the fan, because of the pattern. That's the ONLY good thing, though. Space is tight. If one blew on the road I would call a tow truck rather than change one on a hot engine.



I'm going to try to attach a picture of the belt routing schematic. -Hey, it worked! That's for the diesel with A/C 2005 model. #7 is the tensioner, and as previously posted, you have to wiggle the belt out behind it.



Gary

 

[klenger]

It's a real PITA. When I changed my belt for the Jacobs EB, I would have sworn that I had to take apart the fan assy to get the belt back on, but I knew that I got it off w/o doing so. Skinned knuckles, cut fingers, etc... but I'm feeling much better now. :-laf

 

[LSteiner]

You will find if you go underneith with the breaker bar

you can release the tension on the tensioner pully and jam the breaker bar over a pully.

You can then go up top and take off the belt.



You can also do it from the top but it wouldn't hurt to

have a slight extension on the breaker bar because you

can only grip a small part of the end from up there.

 

[CStraface]

Should I follow the numbers in the belt diagram to get the belt back on? Does it matter where I start? Any tips would help. Thanks.

 

[LSteiner]

Belt install

I must confess I have only checked to see the best way to relieve the tensioner

so I would know ahead of time that I had the proper tools. I need to do a practice

run so if I break down on the road I will be more confident



But this may help.

The following identifies the pulleys.



1-Generator Pulley

2-Waterpump Pulley

3-Idler Pulley

4-Power Steering Pump Pulley

5-Radiator Fan Pulley

6-Crankshaft Pulley

7-Automatic Tensioner

8-A/C Compressor Pump Pulley



One fellow poster suggested starting at the fan pulley, working belt under

crank pulley, then (driver's side) under powersteering pulley, then continue

working the belt up as shown on the diagram.



After you have belt over all pulleys (except waterpump) relieve tension on the

tensioner pully , then slip belt over the waterpump.



Double check belt on all pulleys to make sure everything is positioned properly.



Release 1/2" breaker bar from tensioner so as to tighten belt. Double check

everything again.



Remember to do the waterpump pulley last.



Note: Those who have ACTUALLY done it may differ with my thoughts, if so, i'll

no doubt learn something from them



Hope that helps

Larry

 

[klenger]

All I can say from my experience is "it's a bi&%h"

 

[CStraface]

Ha. Well that don't help. I am having trouble getting the sucker between the fan pully and the crank pully. How the F*** can you get it through there?

 

[CStraface]

Also, is the diagram above correct?

 

[nickleinonen]

Also, is the diagram above correct?

yep. . here is a picture of the one under my hood.

 

[CStraface]

Ok, just got the belt almost all the way there. But now... I can't get the belt on the tensoiner and still on the a/c pump. it's like the tensoiner has to come off or something. i know it doesn't, but man... how do i finish this puppy up? It's like the belt has to come around the side of the tensoiner closest to the engine or something???? Anyone know what I am talking about that can offer some assitance?

 

[SKing]

Go around everything else but the a/c then from under the truck place your ratchet that fits in the back of the tensoiner pull on the rachet place belt around a/c pully release ratchet and its all done.

 

[CStraface]

Go around everything else but the a/c then from under the truck place your ratchet that fits in the back of the tensoiner pull on the rachet place belt around a/c pully release ratchet and its all done.

I know. I got the belt right there, but I can't figure out how to get it through the tensoiner correctly. Once I can properly get it into the tensoiner, I am all done. Oh well, today is a new day, I have some daylight, maybe I will see what I was doing wrong. Lets hope!

 

[CMNS PWR]

Its not as bad as everyone makes out. When I changed out my water pump after 141k miles, I used a 3/8" ratchet and a box wrench for leverage, since I don't have a breaker bar. The hardest part is getting the belt off, it goes on 10x easier. When putting a new one on, get the belt around every pulley, except the water pump pulley. Crank the tensioner to get some slack, and with the other hand, wrap the belt around the water pump. Took me less than 5 minutes.

 

[Buffalo]

Cummins/Mopar or Gatorback Belt???

Are you guys using the Cummins/Mopar belt for the replacement?



I understand Goodyear has a belt called the Gatorback, I believe. Any word on the quality of that unit? How does it, & others, compare with the Cummins/Mopar brand?



Thanks.



Joe F. (Buffalo)

 

[CStraface]

Dayco is what I used.

 

[LSteiner]

I know. I got the belt right there, but I can't figure out how to get it through the tensoiner correctly. Once I can properly get it into the tensoiner, I am all done. Oh well, today is a new day, I have some daylight, maybe I will see what I was doing wrong. Lets hope!

--------------

In the immortal words of Klenger "it's a bi&%h"



So did you get it done? Did mine yesterday, took me an hour, 20min to take off

and the rest to put new one on. Nothing to brag about , for sure. I had a spare

new one from Geno's and figured would be better to have it on than dryrotting

in storage, plus I wanted the practice.



Larry

 

[steved]

Well, I am in the middle of this currently.

My belt is thicker than the space between the tensioner pulley and the block. There is no chance it will come through that space...

My only option is to remove the tensioner assembly... that is the next step...

steved

 

[steved]

Well, as an added tip:



Loosen the bolt on the tensioner. Just loosen it enough to slide the tension out a little to get some room to work...



Made it a breeze to change...



steved