How To Replace Belt Tensioner 1992-99 Chevy Suburban
Created on: 2010-01-26
Watch this video to learn how to fix a noisy, loose, or worn serpentine belt tensioner. The experts at 1A Auto show you how to replace the tensioner on your 96-05 Chevy Silverado, Suburban, or Tahoe; or GMC Sierra or Yukon.
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step 1 :Prepare for the job
- Locate your belt routing diagram, usually located near the radiator. Disconnect the battery.
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step 2 :Remove belt tensioner
- Use your 3/8ths drive ratchet handle to push down and release the tension from the belt.
- Remove the belt.
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step 3 :Remove idler pulley
- Use a 13mm wrench and a little pressure.
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step 4 :Transfer spacer
- Use a small screwdriver to remove the locking washer and access the spacer.
- Transfer the spacer onto the new idler pulley and twist the lock washer on to secure it in place.
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step 5 :Put idler pulley back on.
- Use your 13 mm wrench to tighten it up to 20-25ft lbs
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step 6 :Remove serpentine belt tensioner
- Use your 15 mm wrench. Remove and replace with the new tensioner.
- Ensure that you tighten it up with your wrench.
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step 7 :Inspect and replace serpentine belt
- Inspect the belt for breaks, cracks and imperfections.
- Use the diagram and your wrench on the tensioner to replace the serpentine belt.
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step 8 :Finish up
- Inspect all the pulleys and reconnect the battery.
Tools needed
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15mm Wrench
Flat Blade Screwdriver
Ratchet
13mm Wrench
This video is brought to you by www.1AAuto.com, your source for quality replacement parts and the best service on the internet.
Hi, I'm Mike Green from 1A Auto. In this video, we are going to show to how to replace a serpentine belt tensioner and an idler pulley on a Vortec 5700 equipped 99 Suburban. This process is basically the same for a lot of GM, V6, and V8 applications. Vortec 4300, 5000, 5700, these engines were used in many trucks from '96 to '98, vans, full size SUVs as well as the S-Series, S10, S15 Blazer and Jimmy.
The procedure is pretty simple. The only tools you'll need are 3/8 inch drive ratchet handle, a 13mm wrench, a 15mm wrench, and a small flat-bladed screwdriver. Okay, get started by finding your belt routing diagram, usually located near the radiator. This will help you taking the belt off and putting it back on. Unhook the battery, and then use your 3/8 drive ratchet handle. There is the hole in the belt tensioner that you'll put the handle into. You push down to release the tensioner on the belt, as I'm doing here, and then pull the belt from the idler pulley like that, and then your belt is free.
Then we can get right into to removing the idler pulley. It is a 13mm bolt. Just takes a little pressure. You see me loosen it here, and then pull the bolt the rest of the way and the idler pulley comes right off. Now you need to transfer that spacer on to the new idler pulley. The spacer is held on by a little locking washer. Basically what I'm doing here is I'm using a small screw driver and you can wrench below my hand. I actually have the wrench on the opposite end of the bolt. I'm using a small screw driver to pry up the little teeth on that little lock washer. That'll allow me to start being able to spin it and get it off. (Then my wonderful hair getting in the way a little bit there. No need to see that.)
You can see it. As I get a few more of the teeth loosened up, I can start spinning it a little bit, and then from there I will just spin it off with my fingers. Then pull that spacer off. Then next shot will be, I got the spacer on to the new idler pulley and I'm just twisting that little lock washer back on to hold it in place. Now I'll take that and screw on the idler pulley a little bit. Then I'll use a 13mm wrench to tighten up. I don't think I will show it in this video, but sure enough I'll tighten up. I will be tightening it up probably 20 or 25 foot pounds.
Now go on to the serpentine belt tensioner, which requires a 15 mm wrench and same thing; one bolt, loosen it up, and then unscrew it. I'm going to show you all of that and pull it right out. Bolt comes right out. Take your new tensioner and make sure you've got the right thing. Actually you can see I spin it and shake it a little bit. You can see some of the play causing it to make some extra noise. Just compare the new tensioner, make sure it is the right thing. Small, minor differences but in general it's the right, correct thing and install the new tensioner. One bolt, press it in there, get it started, and tighten it up. I did tighten it up, trust me.
Now, there is the new tensioner installed. Now what we are going to do, before we replace or put the belt back on, we are just going to through it. I'm just kind of spinning it through and just checking the outside surface, just to make there is no breaks, cracks in it or anything. I just go through the whole length of it and kind of pull it through. You see in a second I flip it over and on the other side, on the groove side; you may see some cracks and stuff. That is not a big deal as long as the outside is in good shape. Okay, now using the diagram, I have put the belt into place. I've got my wrench on the tensioner. I push the belt down into the idler pulley, and then I take some tension off and push the belt down on. After this, just make sure you check all the pulleys. Make sure everything is on their good. Then we connect the battery and you are all set.
This video is brought to you by www.1AAuto.com, your source for quality replacement parts and the best service on the internet. Feel free to call us toll free 888-844-3393. We bring you quality parts as well as we are there for you in person. Thank you very much.
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