Spyder911

Hi,

My drive belt tensioner bolt came undone today. Luckily, the nut didn’t break but after reinstalling the bolt and trying to replace the belt on the pulley, I can’t seem to be able to put the belt back no matter how hard I push down on the tensioner nut with a 30mm wrench. The tensioner goes down but not enough to load the belt back on it. Failed tensioner? Toughs, thank you 🙏

Mulldoon

Sounds original as it should tension the belt. Two things I’d do: Replace Serpentine and tensioner. Not to hard and the belt does stretch over time.

Wayne Smith

I've replaced my belt twice as well as several belts for friends. They have always been a pain to "stretch" back on. Align the grooves on the crank pulley. Then work your way around making sure the grooves are aligned in the other pulleys. This will get you the extra quarter of an inch that you need.

The other essential tool to get this job done is patience!!! Good luck.

slicky rick

I think the belt should go through the idler pulley last or something like that.. if you try to slip through a different pulley as the last pulley it , becomes 10x more difficult...

Bruce In Philly

2009 C2S 192K miles

The last pulley is the one with no grooves or lip. Yes a royal pain, but if trouble, then you may not have the belt properly seated into one of pulleys. You may need another person to pull on the belt as you go around and ensure the belt is seated, and then while keeping pressure on the belt, then move the pully over to slip the belt on that last, no-lip pulley. Releasing tension on the belt may cause it to move out of one of the pulleys.

Peace
Bruce in Philly (now Atlanta)

MrMoose

Theoretically the no lip pulley should be last, but the two times I’ve done the job on a 9a1 I’ve found it easiest to put it on the upper right pulley last. Just get one part over the lip and then work it on.

Get a friend to hold the tensioner in the release position so you’re not trying to do two things at once. And don’t lean on the wrench on the tensioner too hard or you can break something, just hold it against the stop.

Spyder911

Thank you all for the tips. I’ve confirmed the belt is routed properly but the tensioner does not come back by itself so I’ve ordered a new one. Keep you posted.