Serpentine belt - other items to replace
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 139
Likes: 3
From: Rockland County NY
Serpentine belt - other items to replace
I have my 96 in for an oil change and the garage told me that the serpentine belt needs replacing. After some reading, I see that this should be a simple job to do myself. But I'm just checking if there are other parts I should be ordering and replacing at the same time. The mechanic suggested I replace the tension pulley too because they often go bad. Looking at Rock Auto site, they have an ACDELCO belt for $20. They also list 'belt idler tensioner pulley' for $16. Should I bother?
TIA
TIA
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 17,298
Likes: 33
From: The Top of Utah
The belt is a 2 minute job. While the old belt is off, check the idler pulley for excessive play. If you have to take it back apart to replace the idler, later, you've only wasted 2 minutes of labor. Don't toss the old belt. I keep an old belt in my storage compartment behind the seat, just in case I break one near E.B.F., Egypt.
RACE ON!!!
RACE ON!!!
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 139
Likes: 3
From: Rockland County NY
Originally Posted by CFI-EFI
The belt is a 2 minute job. While the old belt is off, check the idler pulley for excessive play. If you have to take it back apart to replace the idler, later, you've only wasted 2 minutes of labor. Don't toss the old belt. I keep an old belt in my storage compartment behind the seat, just in case I break one near E.B.F., Egypt.
RACE ON!!!
RACE ON!!!
Could you describe 'excessive play'? I'm assuming there should be very little movement.
What about the tensioner pulley?
Also - I picked up a Goodyear belt at Autozone yeterday and a serpentine belt tool to make it easier on myself as so many have suggested. The tool they had didn't have the crow's foot open ended socket but a set of regular sockets. I went home and was going to see if this would still fit in the tight spacing but yesterday was a cold day in the NY area and when I tried to pop the hood, only one side released. I hope the other side was just frozen. I get it into the garage tonight to warm up (We did some construction and the car's been outside since it started). Does anyone know if this will work?
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,830
Likes: 1
From: atlanta Georgia
check both the idler and tensioner to make sure they spin freely if not they need replacing.. $100 total for them.
I agree gates belts are great!
good luck your friend
Sean
also check all fluids/levels.
I agree gates belts are great!
good luck your friend
Sean
also check all fluids/levels.
