Belt Tensioner All engines use an automatic drive belt tensioner. On the 7.5L engine, there are two belts; one uses the automatic tensioner, while the alternator belt requires periodic tensioning. On all belts using an automatic tensioner, no adjustment is necessary because the tensioner adjusts for belt wear. To adjust the tension on the 7,5L engine alternator belt, loosen the adjusting bolts and rotate the alternator until the proper tension is on the drive belt and tighten the adjusting bolts. It is recommended that the belt tension indicator mark be inspected with the engine OFF at 60,000 mile (96,000 km) intervals. If the wear indicator mark is out of specification, the drive belt is worn or an incorrect drive belt has been installed. The 4.6L, 5.4L, 6.8L, all have one belt and one belt tensioner. Look at the diagram on top of the radiator or somewhere in the engine compartment. 1/2" ratchet / or 1/2" beaker bar will do the trick.
If your car has a tensioner pulley it can be moved to release the tension on the belt for removal. Make note of the routing of the belt before removing it. This will make installing the replacement belt much easier. If you do not have a tensioner pulley one of your accessory motor/pumps (most likely your alternator) can be moved in order to release the tension on the belt. Most tensioner pulleys have an hole the exact size of a ratchet drive on the tensioner arm. This allows you to put a standard ratchet (without any socket attached to it) into that hole and use the leverage of the ratchet to release the tension.
You release the spring tension on the tensioner, a pulley in the belt system who's only purpose is to keep the belt tight. Normally you can use a ratchet to move the pulley away from the belt, but some are adjustable and require loosening a bolt.
You would typically use a serpentine belt tool or a breaker bar with the appropriate socket to loosen the tension pulley on a 2002 Cavalier. These tools help you apply enough force to release tension on the pulley so you can easily remove or install the serpentine belt.
Drive belts are simply changed by finding the tensioner pulley, usually on the lower passenger side of the motor, and feeling for a small square opening. Put a 3/8 drive or 1/2 drive ratchet into the tensioner and pull counter-clockwise. the belt will loosen and is easily removed. CAUTION!!!!! after removing the old belt, SLOWLY!!!!!!!! release the pressure on the ratchet.
Looking under the hood standing over the fan look down and to the right of the fan. The tensioner is between the alternator pulley and the crank shaft pulley. There will be a 3/8 inch square hole in the tensioner. This square hole is for a 3/8 inch drive socket or pull handle to release the tension off the serpentine belt Looking under the hood standing over the fan look down and to the right of the fan. The tensioner is between the alternator pulley and the crank shaft pulley. There will be a 3/8 inch square hole in the tensioner. This square hole is for a 3/8 inch drive ratchet or pull handle to release the tension off the serpentine belt
locate belt tensioner below alternator on pass. side insert 3/8 drive ratchet in center of tensioner pulley rotate to loosen belt remover belt
this belt drive has a belt tensioner, you need to release the tensioner and then you can remove the belt. 2 differant styles of tensioners, one will have a 'inverted torx' fitting right on the front of the pulley, and the other one will have a 17mm socket fitting right below and to the left side of the pulley, just put your ratchet and socket on it and release the tension by turning counter clockwise and holding while you remove the belt.
On the belt tensioner you will see a spot to insert a half inch drive breaker bar or ratchet to move tensioner off belt.
Begin by loosening the tensioner pulley. Take the old air conditioning drive belt on. Put the new air conditioning drive belt on and tighten the tensioner pulley.
The fan belt that you need will be determined by your make and model and can be had by going to a reputable parts store and just telling them what you are looking for. You probably won't find a belt at Walmart types of places. On this forum you will find information about the belt tensioner pulley and how to change out the belt.....its an easy job but you need a ratchet and a socket of the size that will fit the nut on the front of the tensioner pulley.....you use the ratchet to release the tension on the belt so that you can slip the belt over the tensioner pulley, the last step in the process. Sorry, I don't know what size that socket is but the parts store may. By the way, the tensioner pulley is the only pulley in that mess that doesnt actually drive an engine device (such as the AC, fan, alternator etc). It is spring loaded and keeps the serpentine belt under tension so that all the other things work correctly. This is a job that anyone can easily do but it does help to have someone there to help you: one to push on the ratchet and the other to slip the belt over the tensioner pulley. Good luck
use a 3/8 drive ratchet to loosen the tension and take your belt off.Then unbolt the center bolt of the tension assembly and replace with a new unit.
There should be a square hole on the belt tensioner arm that a 3/8's drive ratchet will fit in, just put a pipe over the ratchet for extra leverage and turn the tensioner in the direction that will release the belt.