OK!! What is the deal??!! Why can't I get the new belt on, is there a trick to these cars??? I know HOW to do it.. but I can't get the new belt on... Any pointers??
How are you trying to do it cause it's not that hard.
<img src="http://www.j-body.org/registry/americanred/deplysig.gif">
Here's what I ran across. I used a belt tensioner tool to get the old one off. I removed the tool so I could route the new belt. When I went to install the new belt, the tensioner moved forward so that I couldn't get the tool back on "low" enough to move the tensioner enough to get the belt on. What I ended up doing was moving the tensioner a little bit, putting a block of wood or something to keep the tensioner from snapping back forward and repostioned the tool. Give that a shot.
in my camaro i used to cut the old one off and then just jump on the new one. i routed the belt and got as much set up as i could and then had someone i trusted bump the ignition and kinda pushed the belt on as it moved. i know its stupid but its easier than taking @!#$ apart and doing it the right way. when you drag race and rip a belt off between rounds you don't have time to do things the right way, you find the easy way.
GO PATS!!!
I had my girlfriends dad help me with this.. we had the b elt around all pulleys, but I didn't have enough slack to get it completely on the tensioner pulley. There is very little room to work with on t he 2.4L. I checked the size of the new belt compared to the old one, and it is slightly smaller,. but it would have to be cause the old one is stretched out and obviosuly not working anymore.... soooo... I'm at a loss... I figured anyone here with a 2.4 J-Body would be able to shoot some advice.
One thing I did notice is that if you pulled the tensioner up too far, it actually begins to tighten the belt again, so there's a sweet spot to find. If anything.. I'll pay the 40bux for the dealer to do it.
My Trans AM is so easy, my olds was easy, my grand am was easy.. this is the hardest time I've had with a stupid belt.
the last pulley you should put it around is the alternator. Trust me, if you get the tensioner back far enough it will practically jump on.
i usually pull the tensioner back, leave the wrench on it and tie it to the motor mount with zip ties. then you have 2 free haneds to work. you can put the belts on and off quick like this.
Hmmm... never thought of tying it back... that is a great idea since there is no way to fit 3 hands in that space... as for putting the belt on the alternator last, I tried that too... couldn't get it on. I'll try it one last time myself this weekend when the girlfriend brings it down. I would prefer to beat this belt problem.. it really bugs me.. lol
If you don't have the belt tensioner tool, buy one and try the 2x4 trick. I guarantee your problem is you can't move the tensioner back far enough.
I hear much about this notorious tool... now where can I get one and how much?? I had the tensioner up pretty high... but sounds like a tool I should add to my tool box
I have tried to use the tensioner tool before and it would always hit the upper mount no matter how i positioned it. i also have the supercharger on the car which makes the routing even harder with the tight fit. i will stick to the method of tying the wrench to the upper mount. Big zip ties work the best for tying it.
You can get them at any parts store. bout 15 bucks if I remember correctly.
Put it on the tensioner and push it back till you can put the wood under so it will hold, then repostion the tool, and you should have enough room to move the tensioner back with out hitting the motor mount.
The craftsman one is about $25 and come with a couple of arms that will allow you to position the bar so that it will pull the tensioner all the way back. Worked for me. I can change my belt in about 5 minutes by myself.
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Canadian Tire rents out the belt removal tools for free
This should be easy as pie with the tool, use the alternator pulley as the last one. It took me 5 min last time I did it on my friends 2.4.
Jay
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I use a long 13mm Craftsman Wrench on a rope to do mine. Pull the
rope from under the front of the vehicle.
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