belt problems

[GMMike]

Earlier tonight I changed out my water pump and put in a new one. At first it was easy to loosen the belt off the pulley so I can get it off and get to the pump. The problem occurred when it was time to put the belt back on. I had to actually force the belt back on because I had a hard time putting it back on. Now the belt is on so tight that I can't move the tensioner that much to create some slack in the belt. Is the tensioner to blame or is it something else? It seems to me that belt in on track and I know the routing is right.

[coupe]

How are you moving the tensioner?
If by hand then ya, you wont move it much at all.

[GMMike]

I'm using the belt tensioner tool. Also if it matters, the belt is fairly new still I brought it like two weeks ago.

[coupe]

Is the tensioner facing down?

[rixGAphx]

What's wrong is your order of doing things, at least compared to the '96 3.1; '99+ have a different alternator location, so this might not apply.

* Relieve tension from belt by lifting up on tensioner.
* Remove belt from alternator pulley.
* Remove belt from whatever else needs attention (in this case, the WP).

Installation is reverse.

So, you never remove the belt from the idler pulley unless you're change the idler pulley or tensioner device.

-Rick

[bballr4567]

Yea that is what I was taught. Always put the belt on the highest pulley last. Dont know why it is but on my 3100 it was a PITA to change it until I changed the order the way I put it on. I couldnt figure out why it was easier. lol

[GMMike]

The pulley side of the tensioner is facing towards the front of the car not downwards. So with the position like that the tensioner won't hardly move anymore. When I loosen the belt to take the pump off I just took the belt off the water pump pulley and no where else.

[bballr4567]

http://www.v6z24.com/specs/images/engines/3400v6.jpg

Thats the way it should be run. You might think you have it right but you could of mis run it some how.

[GMMike]

Is there a way I can just look at the tensioner and tell if it's bad? Also like I said before the tensioner is not facing downward like that pic is.

[bballr4567]

If you have the belt off there shouldnt be any play at all in the actual pulley system. If there is then you know its bad.

[GMMike]

I also heard that the belt will stretch some once I start driving it for a while since the belt is still pretty new. Is that true?

[rixGAphx]

Originally posted by utimike
I also heard that the belt will stretch some once I start driving it for a while since the belt is still pretty new. Is that true? Yes, it will stretch.
About 1/8 - 1/4 inch.

That little amount of 'stretch' won't make a BIT of difference.
The only purpose of the spring-loaded tensioner is to ACCOMODATE this minor 'stretch' over the 60k mile lifetime of the belt.
Don't count on the 'stretch', or anything else, making the present installation better.

It is so tight now that it will ruin the bearings in some of the accessories (prolly alternator first, mebbe your new WP).

You say "...the tensioner is not facing downward like that pic is."
Obviously it is installed wrong.
Remove the belt and re-run it properly.

Good luck,
-Rick

[coupe]

Damn, you guys beat me to it.

The tensioner should be facing down.

The belt is installed wrong somehow.

[GMMike]

I'll probably work on it again tomorrow after work since I get off early. Thanks guys. I'll keep you all updated. It's just going to be hard taking the belt off this time :O

[rixGAphx]

Originally posted by utimike
It's just going to be hard taking the belt off this time I can express-mail you a knife. :eek:

:D :D



Mebbe unbolt the alternator first, so its pulley kinda pivots downward and provides a little slack for removal.

[bballr4567]

Rick how did you know how to do that?? LOL

Yea I havent done that before. hah

[GMMike]

For the life of me I can't figure it out. I notice that the gatorback belts have two different part numbers. Does it really matter which one I buy, is one shorter than the other? I forgot which one I bought. I'm afraid that if all that doesn't work I'm going have to let a mechanic look at it.

[bballr4567]

You will need to get gatorback belt # 4060868. If you dont have that belt you will have trouble getting it on there.

[GMMike]

So the part number 4060865 won't fit?

[bballr4567]

Nope thats about 3/4 of an inch too short. Whoever bought that belt got the wrong one.

[GMMike]

I got that right gatorback belt. Now it fits. So thanks for everyone's help.

[bballr4567]

Originally posted by utimike
I got that right gatorback belt. Now it fits. So thanks for everyone's help. Great news. Glad ya got it fixed.