\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. If you are having difficulty locating the hood release or safety latch, refer to your owner's manual for guidance. A regular wrench is often better than a socket wrench for this. This sticker will show the routing path and size of the serpentine belt. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Turn the bolt head in the center of the spring-loaded arm of the belt tensioner counterclockwise with a ratchet and socket to loosen the bolt. Apply the correct tool the tensioner calls for, and turn the tool counterclockwise to loosen the tension. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Locate the idler pulley and loosen the center retaining bolt using a wrench and turning the bolt counterclockwise. 2 Park the vehicle in a level spot and set the emergency brake. Copyright 2023 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, Repairpal.com; How to Loosen a Belt Tensioner. Different vehicles have different methods of maintaining proper tension on the drive belt, but most can be adjusted at home with simple hand tools. 1.6 Step 6: Double-check the Blades. However, there are a few telling signs to keep in mind. Move the pulley AWAY from the belt. The serpentine belt in your car powers the accessories such as air conditioning, power steering, the alternator, and waterpump. Most auto supply stores will "rent to own" serpentine belt removal tool (the long, flat, thin breaker bar) to you at no cost, when you buy but then return it for a refund within the specified time (48 hours at some stores or a longer time at others). The tensioner pulley should not move under the pressure of the belt when in motion. This article has been viewed 147,223 times. Step 1 Park the vehicle on level ground and open the hood. Step 2 Locate the belt tensioner on the front of the engine. References. Locate your serpentine belt routing diagram Use your 15 mm socket and ratchet to release tension from the serpentine belt tensioner. Her articles have appeared on eHow.com, Answerbag.com and LIVESTRONG.COM, and she specializes in automotive and business topics. 492 72K views 5 years ago How to Replace a tensioner pulley in your car or truck. By using our site, you agree to our. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Remove any belt guard, cover or fan cowling as necessary -- for instance on a belt driven fan on some rear-wheel-drive vehicles (on older cars, on trucks, etc.) wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Eye injuries: Always wear safety glasses when working on a vehicle. Track the tension in the belt as you tighten the alternator bolts to measure how much youre tightening it. Older vehicles may have drive belts that were removed by pivoting an alternator to release tension. This sticker will show the routing path and size of the serpentine belt. The serpentine belt in most modern vehicles transfers power from the crank pulley to the various accessories mounted on the engine. A worn out pulley bearing or a worn spring in the tension pulley can also cause squeaking or a chirp. Last Updated: September 15, 2021 By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. A loose drive belt can compromise your vehicles ability to power accessories like power steering, air conditioning or your alternator, or could possibly even cause internal damage to the motor. If the new belt is not the same width as the old one, it is the wrong belt. A loose drive belt wont drive the accessory reliably, slipping and making noise. Burns: The temperature generated by the engine can cause severe burns or hot water scalds. While holding the tool in place with the tension relieved, slip the belt off the most accessible pulley that you can reach. Locate the belt tensioner on the front of the engine. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. To replace the carriage plate belt, follow the instructions here. Glowforge Solve Parts Belts, Pulleys, & Hardware Adjust the Carriage Plate Belt Tension Under the laser arm, a belt attaches to the carriage plate and moves the printer head to the left and right. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. What follows are some general guidelines, but always check your repair manual or owners manual for information and steps specific to your vehicle. The most common way in today's vehicles is an automatic belt tensioner. Without Drive Belts and a Belt Tensioner, these Pulleys Aren't Going Anywhere!. % of people told us that this article helped them. Duston specializes in leading a team that handles a variety of automotive repairs including replacing spark plugs, front and rear brake pads, fuel pumps, car batteries, alternators, timing belts, and starter motors. Toyota and other timing belt tensioners are loosened by simply removing them from the engine. Tensioner pulley wear will cause your pulley to squeak. 1. Most serpentine belts need to be replaced every 40,000 to 70,000 miles. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Step 3: Locate the serpentine belt tensioner. Remove the lock only after the tensioner, pulley, or slipper, and timing belt or timing chain are installed and aligned. If your vehicle does not have a tensioner pulley, the alternator bracket is likely how tension is set on the belt. Pull the belt off by hand. % of people told us that this article helped them. Use a ratchet and socket and turn the bracket bolts counterclockwise to loosen and remove the bolts from the belt tensioner bracket. Expert Interview. 5. Pull the serpentine belt off the engine. ): this is found under the vehicle -- to gain access to bottom pulleys. Step 3. RepairSmith received The 2020 Big Innovation Award by Business Intelligence Group and The Startup of the Year by the American Business Awards. Tensioner pulleys generally fall into two categories: accessory-integrated (AI) and non-accessory-integrated (NAI). Due to factors beyond the control of ChrisFix, no information contained in this video shall create any expressed or implied warranty or guarantee of any particular result. You must disconnect the battery and loosen the alternator before tightening the drive belt. By using our site, you agree to our. Show more Show more Jeep 4.0 Tension Pulley Replacement - Complete D&E In The Garage. In fact, just about the only thing you'll have to have on hand is a wrench. Step 5: Start the engine and listen to see if the noise goes away. 3 In many cars, you can increase or decrease the tension of the drive belt by loosening the bolts on the alternator bracket. If your timing belt is not properly tensioned it will not keep the valves . http://www.familyhandyman.com/automotive/changing-a-car-serpentine-belt/view-all, http://www.howacarworks.com/electrical-systems/checking-adjusting-and-refitting-drive-belts, https://www.automd.com/46/how-to-replace-a-serpentine-belt/, http://www.familyhandyman.com/automotive/how-to-test-an-alternator/view-all. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.
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\n<\/p><\/div>"}. Listen. Belt tensioner pulleys should be tight when pulled horizontally, though they can give some slack when pulled in the direction that they operate. Either locate the serpentine belt routing diagram in the engine compartment, or refer to the repair manual. The most common symptom of a bad or failing drive belt tensioner is noise from the belts or tensioner. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Following these general guidelines and specific instructions from your owners manual or repair manual, your belt or chain will function for the life of your car. It may be difficult to apply pressure to the tensioner and route the belt, so you may want to ask a friend to help. If you can pull the belt more than a half inch, it is not tight enough. Also, some vehicles require a star-shaped Torx bit to loosen the belt tensioner. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.
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