Brought to you by 1AAuto.com, your source for quality replacement parts and the best service on the Internet.
Hi, I'm Mike from 1A Auto. I hope this how-to video helps you out, and next time you need parts for your vehicle, think of 1AAuto.com. Thanks.
In this video, we're going to show you how to replace a serpentine belt tensioner, and as you'll see, this car actually needs one. The original tensioner is worn out. You can get a new tensioner from 1AAuto.com. The only tools you'll need are a three eighths drive ratchet handle, a piece of pipe might help, and a 10 millimeter socket.
First thing to go over, here's a little homemade diagram of how the belt is routed. This will help you a lot when you go to put the belt back on, because they can be a little confusing to get back together if you don't have a diagram like this.
It's pretty easy. Right here is your tensioner. Take a three eighths drive ratchet handle. Work it right into your tensioner. If you only have a short handle, use a nice big piece of pipe. It helps you to move the belt easier. Then you can pull it off there. Actually, you can see that my tensioner's in need of replacement because it's not moving freely. When it does that you want to be careful because it could snap back at any minute. Let's take our belt off and out.
To remove your tensioner, there is a bolt right down here. That's a 10 millimeter bolt.I'm just going to speed up as I use a 10 millimeter socket and then my ratchet and remove that bolt. I got the bolt out. I'm just going to break it free with a screwdriver. It comes off.
Now, you can see where it mounts to the engine. Right here, there's a little hole. That is where this goes in. I like to put the bolt right through. I'm going to fast forward it here. I struggle with it a little bit, just because I have bigger hands and it's a little hard to get in there, but just hold on to the tensioner with one hand and thread that bolt in there with the other. Then use your 10 millimeter socket with your ratchet, and tighten it up. You want to tighten that to probably about 20 to 22 foot-pounds.
Take a loop, and you want to put it down, all the way down, onto your A/C pulley which is the one furthest down. Then you want to come up, around your tensioner here and then around your water pump and down to your crank pulley, and then across. Over here is your power steering pulley. Then you should be able to kind of pull it a little bit tight and get it up on top of this idler pulley here. Now it's all preliminarily routed. Just make sure it's in the grooves in these pulleys. It looks like it's good. Now take a three eighths ratchet, put it on there. Put on the pipe just to make it nice and easy. Pull this over, and while you do that, pull this up, and on top of your alternator. Then make sure that everything is pushed in. Your tensioner will go back. Make a quick check. It's not quite on my pulley down there. It's around the crank fine. I'm just going to put this back in. Take the tension off a little bit, and push it onto this pulley way down here. Now it's good. You're all set.
We hope this video helps you out. Brought to you by www.1AAuto.com, your source for quality replacement parts and the best service on the Internet. Please feel free to call us toll-free, 888-844-3393. We're the company that's here for you on the Internet and in person.