GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

It's even easier than changing oil. I jacked the car up, threw the stand under and crawled down. I was ready to go with a 19mm wrench and loosen the tensioner pulley. But 19mm is way waaayy off. Not sure where that number came from on the MO board links to how to do this, but def. not the right size. So instead of going to the store for another wrench, I grabbed my trusty adjustable C-clamp, fed it from the top of the engine in back and clamped onto the pulley piston and to the top of the block. A few turns to tighten and the belt slacked right off. Popped the new one on, loosened and released the clamp. Viola! 5 minute job and save $70 for install fee. The clamp idea really works! The belt is tight and aligned properly as well.One thing I did notice which I am still trying to figure out why, but once I got the new belt on, the engine was obviously idling quieter, but I'm sure many with the Automatic know of the 35-40mph rough vibrating you get when the car is upshifted and cruising. It's virtually gone now! The car is still sluggish as always (I have AWD btw also) at those speeds but you can comfortable cruise at them without your teeth rattling apart. It's amazing!So to all interested, get a clamp and do this method, it's much easier and a big time saver, plus you can DIY.

I would love to see some pics. sounds pretty easy though

Cool! Sounds like an easy job. Did you access the lower pulleys from up top or from below?

I'll get some pics of the areas I clamped and point them out.Once the tensioner was eased, I took off the engine cover then popped off the belt from top pulleys and then went underneath for the bottoms. New belt wnet on top first, then put on the bottoms, then double checked to make sure they were on snug, and took off the clamp and did a quick re-check.You don't even need to know the belt routing if you have some engine knowledge. Any pulley that does not have grooves is what the backside of the belt touches. It's funny cause there is a sweet little whine from the belt a la S/C, although not as loud of course and I don't drive around hoping people notice it lol.

Got pics yet?

Quote, originally posted by Whelan »It's funny cause there is a sweet little whine from the belt a la S/C, although not as loud of course and I don't drive around hoping people notice it lol.If you liked that you should try UR's crank pulley and AEM's alternator pulley. Really nice whine with those two spinning! And just a little more zip in your daily drive.

yes yes pics coming by end of weekend. I will get pics of the lightbulbs, the belt change and anything else I missed recently. I'll make a big post with them all in one )

uummm so what happened to the pics?

what size C clamp?

I wouldn't bother with this c-clamp.Just use a breaker bar and a 19mm socket.You can also get away with a 1/2 drive ratchet.BTW,the red circle is where the 19mm goes.

i have a gator belt waiting to be installed! dang

Quote, originally posted by Whelan »yes yes pics coming by end of weekend. I will get pics of the lightbulbs, the belt change and anything else I missed recently. I'll make a big post with them all in one )I've seen the pics of the lights... where are these pics??

what size clamp...? I have only one really good one. Hope it fits when the time comes.

Quote, originally posted by kevera »I wouldn't bother with this c-clamp.Just use a breaker bar and a 19mm socket.You can also get away with a 1/2 drive ratchet.BTW,the red circle is where the 19mm goes.the rubber seals at the top of the tensior is the first thing to go on these......check to see if it is damp.....if so replace before it starts to rattle....these are a know problem with toyota but they still have not fixed the prob yet.

I like the clamp idea because you have 2 hands free while doing the whole thing. You can posistion the belt properly and gently loosen the clamp. Is there an aftermarket tensioner that is better ?

Just picked up a Gator Belt from Auto Zone for $22. I just need to get it in now.Midas wanted $50 for their belt and another $72 to install it. (I'll Pass thank You very much!)EDIT: RATS! I dont have a 19mm anything or a clamp. I guess its back to the store for new tools.

Well I Got my belt changed.Um things didnt exactly go as planned. First, I didnt have the right tools for the job. Second, The lighting was quite poor.It took about an Hour to get the belt changed from opening the hood to closing the hood. I also enlisted the help of a neighboor after the wife and I were struggling to figure out a solution to not having the right tools on hand and using what I had.I did not have a 19mm wrench. I tried a adjustable and it did not grab enough. I then tried a 3/4" Socket and !/2"driver. the handle barley cleared the engine cover. I did not have a "breaker Pipe" to aid in pulling so I used the hang hole on the adjustable wrench to slide over the handle of the socket driver and pulled on it that way. If I had the right tools, and the right light this would have taken only a few minutes.Moral of this story is:HAVE THE RIGHT STINKING TOOLS!! WHICH WOULD INCLUDE A BREAKER PIPE.I'll visit the hardware strore to invest in said "breaker pipe"

Cool! It is a great feeling to do the job yourself! I just put brakes on my Vibe on Sunday, 58,000 miles out of them, the longest any car I have had had gone! At 53,000 I did plugs and belt and my Vibe runs like a top with no vibrations!

well it's been almost 2 years so I'm guessing you don't have the pics from this install whelan anyone else have pics on a how-to or is the pic kevera posted enough to get by?

Here is a DIY w/pics from 9thGenCorolla: http://www.9thgencorolla.com/f...50831

thanks!!

just don't do what I did when I changed mine:http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=36067not that you can really help it if it happens, just a sucky design on the tensioner.

Did my 05 AWD. Easy stuff.Used a socket with a cheater bar to move the tensioner. Mine wasn't 19mm, thinking 3/4". I recommend jacking up the car and removing the brush guard to gain better access to the belt routing. Start at the bottom and work your way up to the alternator. Takes about 15 mins if you have the right routing diagram. Autozone printed the wrong one so it took me 30 mins.