How do you change the serpentine belt and belt tensioner on a 1997-2005 Chevy Malibu V6 3.1L.?

Answer 1

These instructions are for the 3.1 L engine with serpentine belt.

To change the belt, you need to remove the engine mount first. But before you do that, you must support the engine so it won't tilt after you remove the engine mount bolts. You would also need at least one helper. Here's step by step: 1. Use a jack and a long enough wooden block to cover the oil pan. Larger block will distribute the forces better. Don't use only a jack or a small block, it might crack the oil pan. Note: normally, you shouldn't lift engine by the oil pan, you should use an engine hoist, but carefully support with wooden block works. 2. Slowly raise the jack to support the engine. 3. Unscrew (Counter Clock Wise) the 2 bolts and 2 nuts of the engine mount. It's on the passenger side right next to the serpentine belt. 4. Loosen the tensioner bolt, and remove the old belt. You may have to raise the engine a bit to get a big enough gap to slide the belt through. 5. Put in the new belt and route it according to the diagram, you may have to leave it off one of the pulley because the tensioner is so tight. Don't worry, you'll slide it on later. 6. Put tighten the tensioner back on. Make sure the round metal pin goes in the appropriate slot. 7. Here's the hard part, putting the belt entirely on the pulleys. You have to either: a) Put a 3/8" ratchet in to the slot near the tension pulley that says "LIFT" and pull really hard to compress the spring, while putting the belt on the one of the pulley. Unless you are Arnold, you will need help. b) Pull a rope behind the tension pulley arm and pull while pushing with your left arm on the pulley arm to compress the spring; then get another person to hook the belt on one of the pulleys. 8. Put the engine mount back on. 9. Test run the engine to make sure you didn't mess up. Turn on accessories like A/C. If the temperature goes way up, you messed up. The water pump might be spinning the wrong way.

Note: If you don't have a good floor jack, you can jack up the car, place a support under the oil pan, then slowly lower the car until the engine is supported. In this case, jack-stands or blocks under the frame are a good idea to avoid lowering too far.