workin on my dads 1997 2.2L and the alternator went out. swapped alternators but now i cant find where the tensioner is. i know for a fact its not on the alternator itself. i wanna say its the pulley just below and towards the car which requires a 15mm but theres no room between it and the firewall. did what most said and grabbed a broom handle and tried pushing down on it but it didn't move......can anyone provide a diagram of the correct tensioner or explain how to give my belt some slack....thanks
I just did an alternator replacement on 98 2.2l, Ive just used a small piece of pipe on the passanger side of the motor, You cant miss the pulley has an pulley wheel on with alum arm. Push the arm down with a piece of pipe then pop the belt off, And put it back on. Note you have to push down with some force, Make sure you dont slip off the tensioner, Could have some sore knuckles.
Good Luck.
rich weeks wrote:I just did an alternator replacement on 98 2.2l, Ive just used a small piece of pipe on the passanger side of the motor, You cant miss the pulley has an pulley wheel on with alum arm. Push the arm down with a piece of pipe then pop the belt off, And put it back on. Note you have to push down with some force, Make sure you dont slip off the tensioner, Could have some sore knuckles.
Good Luck.
im not seein this alluminum arm, i think the 95-97's 2.2L's are different than the 98+ 2.2L's...?
I'll get a pic posted, Show you. No problem.
that's not an idler pulley. its the tensioner. and, there's a reason it has a 3/8 square opening in the end with the pulley. you use a rachet/breaker bar to turn it, much MUCH easier than trying to push down on it.
JBO Stickers! Get yours today!
Yes sorry its a tensioner, Well you have a few options to undo the blet tensioner, Like I say Ive tried the ratchet and open wrench, I preffer pushing down on the tensioner down.Do what works for you.
Good Luck.
That pic is from a 98+. This pic is from my 97 2.2 and you can see you don't have room for a socket in there. I'll try to get a different angle on it tomorrow.
www.gmofhouston.com
I'd suggest just buying a serpentine belt tool. It comes with low profile sockets, including a 15mm. It makes it so easy to change the belt.
2.2 97 Cavalier......the "Crapalier"
on the 97- engines, a wrench is all you need, should be a 15mm for the stocker, aftermarket replacements use either a 13mm or 9/16 (silly, i know). get the wrench on the nut, push down, and hold it there. to get the belt back on, get it around all the pullies EXCEPT the alternator, and then push down on the tensioner again. get it around the alternator, and let go.
JBO Stickers! Get yours today!
Masintenn wrote:I'd suggest just buying a serpentine belt tool. It comes with low profile sockets, including a 15mm. It makes it so easy to change the belt.
I'm assuming you own a 97? Can you get a socket down there? I tried and I couldn't.
www.gmofhouston.com
GM_Mike wrote:Masintenn wrote:I'd suggest just buying a serpentine belt tool. It comes with low profile sockets, including a 15mm. It makes it so easy to change the belt.
I'm assuming you own a 97? Can you get a socket down there? I tried and I couldn't.
again, dont bother with sockets. a good wrench (gearwrench/MAC/snapon) and it goes easy.
JBO Stickers! Get yours today!
