84VetteMan205hp

i cant seem to find the bolt on the tensioner

Cruisinfanatic

to release the tension, you stick the 1/2 in end of a socket wrench in the end and pull or push. No bolt

pmihaltian

All belt tensioners work the same way. You simply put a 1/2" ratchet into the 1/2" slot and then turn the ratchet to loosen the tensioner and allow the belt to be removed.

When installing the tensioner itself, put your socket on the attaching bolt and remove the long bolt that goes into the block. See attached photo.

84VetteMan205hp

thx now on to my journey replacing the water pump.

BSenzina

Maybe a dumb question, but I gotta ask. When changing the belt, remove the tension and just swap belts??? Or are there some sort of marks on the belt and tensioner I need to line up???

Cliff Harris

Just swap. I find it easiest to release the tension and then unhook the belt from the alternator pulley. The manual tells you to use a breaker bar, but I always use a 1/2" ratchet because the breaker bar hits things before the tension is released. I have even pushed down on the tensioner with my hand to relieve the belt tension.

The tensioner does have a mark on it, but it's supposed to tell you when the belt is stretched and needs to be replaced.