Serpentine belt help
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 12,666
Likes: 3,121
From: Shamong, NJ
Serpentine belt help
Ok guys, I'm old and old school. I just had my sons 99 Firebird towed home, it appears that the alternator quit. I'm going to test it in the morning.
My question is, if I need to replace the alternator, how do I remove the serpentine belt. I'm not stupid and I'm not afraid to tackle anything mechanical. I've done body off restorations and crewed on a race car, I've just never had a reason to play with a single belt setup before. I know adjustment is by means of the tensioner, but what do I do to take the tension off the belt? Is there any special tool needed to remove the tensioner?
Thanks in advance!
My question is, if I need to replace the alternator, how do I remove the serpentine belt. I'm not stupid and I'm not afraid to tackle anything mechanical. I've done body off restorations and crewed on a race car, I've just never had a reason to play with a single belt setup before. I know adjustment is by means of the tensioner, but what do I do to take the tension off the belt? Is there any special tool needed to remove the tensioner?
Thanks in advance!
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 12,666
Likes: 3,121
From: Shamong, NJ
Thanks again!
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2000
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From: Fort Knox, KY
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If there's a water temperature sending unit near the belt, be careful.
They're easy to sheer off when a socket or breaker bar slips out of the tensioner hole (especially on LTX engines) due to the water pump's placement along the belt's routing.
They're easy to sheer off when a socket or breaker bar slips out of the tensioner hole (especially on LTX engines) due to the water pump's placement along the belt's routing.
