Many autos have been utilizing a single-drive belt utility for a few years. As a substitute of getting two or three completely different drive belts channeled across the crankshaft and reaching out to totally different built-in pulley techniques, a single serpentine belt snakes round each pulley within the automobile. The excellent news is you should not have to exchange a number of belts at a time and modify difficult pulley tensioning gadgets. The unhealthy information is it is the one drive belt for the car, so if it breaks or snaps, you are on the facet of the highway till the towtruck will get there. Inspecting the belt for cracks or damage is simple, changing it is a bit more difficult, however might be achieved with a few straightforward tools and prevent a bunch of cash on labor prices or tow prices.
Pontiac Sunbird Alternator Belt Installation Instructions
Open the hood and prop it on the hood prop rod with the car off and with out the keys within the ignition. Find the belt routing diagram bracket straight above the belt on the appropriate-hand facet of the motor.
Remove the 2 bolts holding the bracket overlaying the belt with a ratchet, 2-inch extension, and an eight-millimeter socket. You have to this diagram to reroute the brand new belt. Clear it off so you possibly can learn the schematics and find the tensioner pulley and course to show it to launch the strain. Will probably be marked on the diagram.
Place the 15-millimeter field finish wrench on the tensioner pulley and switch it to launch the strain (normally clockwise). Slip the belt off the alternator pulley after which permit the wrench on the pulley to attract again to its unique place. Remove the wrench to get it out of the way in which, then take away the belt. Dimension the brand new belt up with the outdated belt to verify they’re the right measurement.
Snake the brand new belt across the pulleys in line with the diagram bracket beginning with the bottom pulleys, farthest away from the alternator. Ensure that the ribs of the belt are inserting into the grooves of the grooved pulleys and that the again of the belt (clean half ) is contacting the sleek non-grooved pulleys in accordance with the diagram.
Holding the slack of the belt close to the alternator, maintain the belt taut with one hand whereas inserting the wrench again onto the tensioner pulley with the opposite. Flip the wrench to launch the strain. Slip the rest of the belt onto the alternator. Don’t pressure it. If the brand new belt was the identical dimension because the previous one and also you wouldn’t have sufficient room, it’s both not routed appropriately or shouldn’t be lined up correctly on a number of pulleys. You might have to persuade the belt to slide onto the alternator pulley, however you shouldn’t should drive it on.
Begin the engine to check the belt and test for any squealing or different noises. If every thing appears to be operating properly,shut the engine off and take away the keys. Change the belt diagram bracket and tighten the bolts. Shut the hood and also you’re completed.
[taken from ehow.com]