GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

I wish I could get to the matrix forum but it's blocked here. I tried to change my serpentine belt during lunch today...derned if'n I can figure out how to do it. Help anyone??

What kind of help do you need?It's easier with a breaker bar and a 19mm socket to release the tension on the tensioner assembly,the routing diagram should be on the hood.

Cool photo!! I looked and looked for the routing diagram--not there. So I got under there and found what I think is the tensioner (lighting wasn't very good) but I couldn't figure how to loosen it. On a BMW I used to have all you had to do was put a breaker bar on the tensioner to loosen it. No socket required. Is it something similar on the Vibe? Does the wrench go on the pulley bolt?

goes on the bolt and pull twards the front of the car should release the tension on the belt.

Thanks a lot! A quick answer from someone who's done it is better than f**king it up...

take a look at the third photo down...

GREAT! Thanks a lot!

NP....

Got the belt changed today--thanks again for the help. Next time I'll have to change the tensioner too--stripped out the d--ned thing.

stripped what? the bolt or did you over extend the tentioner?

Should have done it the easy way.1) Get a large C-clamp2) Lift Front of car on a jack and use jack stands3) Put top of clamp over the black piston next to the tensioner pulley4) tighten the other end of the clamp onto the engine head until belt is loose.5) Remove belt, install new belt.6) loosen clamp until belt is tight like normalTotal time is about 10 Minutes, 15 if you've never done it before.I recommend keeping the old belt in the cargo space around the spare tire as a backup just in case.Also hope you got a Goodyear Gatorback belt, much better than stock.

I still don't understand why you say it's the easy way.All that fiddling with a C-clamp.Just do it the way it's suppose to be done.It's the easiest belt to replace on any vehicle I've ever owned. Whatever works for ya.

According to the book it told me to get a 19mm wrench, well the darn thing didnt even fit. Not even close as it just spun around not touching the bolt one bit. So I grabbed the clamp, took longer to remove the undercarriage plastic than to replace the belt. Plus you have to hold the thing loose to pop off the belt then hold it again to put it on. With a clamp, you have both hands free to work, and you don't run the risk of stripping or breaking the bolt as I have heard horror stories in the past.

I couldn't get a C-clamp on it no matter what I tried. Some swearing followed. Then I was holding the tensioner with a wrench to put the new belt on and felt it slip. Lots of swearing when I realized the bolt was stripped. What I finally ended up doing was putting a pipe under the tensioner piston, lowering the car very gently and letting the weight of the car compress the piston.

You guys who are stripping the bolt, are you putting the 19mm socket or wrench on the right part? There's a 19mm hex cast into the tensioner arm (see pic). You "turn" that towards the front of the car. Do not turn the bolt below it. Also, being made out of soft aluminum, use a 6-point socket, not a 12-point socket or wrench. A 6-point socket grabs the hex more securely than a 12-point - same reason impact wrench sockets are 6-point.

That's exactly how I f**ked it up...used a 12 point. It's all I had at the time. Should have waited till I got a 6-point.

[/QUOTE]This is the exact pic I've been looking for

I know this is an old thread, but I'm trying to change my serpentine belt. I read some of these posts before attempting yesterday and it sounded easy. I could not access the tensioner from the top and I didn't have time to try from underneath. What is the trick to accessing everything? Do you remove the underbody panel and have better access from there?

not sure if there's a big difference in location between the GT and base - but when I did mine I just leaned in and attached my wrench and used a broom handle to pull toward the front...belt loosened and off it went :DI didn't crawl under or lift the car up to remove/install the belt

On my 03 GT, I did not have to get under the car to release the tension but it did help to crawl under there to get the new belt on. Honestly, it's tons easier with either the c-clamp method mentioned above or with a friend. You have to get a socket on the nut circled in yellow above, get a big breaker bar or pipe and pull it (gently) towards the front of the car. You can do this from above, I seem to remember having to move a bracket that's just above it to give myself more room. I've read that it helps to "pump" it a little to get it going and use proper increasing strength to release the tension. I mention "gently" because I broke that molded nut (in yellow) off when I changed my belt. Thing sheared right off, put too much pressure on it. It's generally considered to be a dumb design. Managed to get the new belt on but I'm in shaky territory next time I have to do it

Here's the thread I posted when I originally did it, hope this helps:http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=36067

that picture makes more sense than any writing. They could have explained that the bolt was part of the arm (welded on). the C-clamp worked great for me though. I used a large one with the orange clamps you use for wood. Very easy and no labor required for moving the tensioner. unorthodox but a fun way.