How to Install a Serpentine Belt

Video Transcript

"In this clip we're going to talk about the proper service procedure to remove, inspect and overhaul your vehicle's alternator. In this step we're going to talk about the proper service procedure for reinstalling our vehicle's Serpentine belt. You're going to want to refer to the chart on the front of the engine, if you have any questions about belt routing. We have a Spring Loaded Belt Tensioner on this particular vehicle and in order to unload the belt we're going to rotate it counter-clockwise. Go ahead and grab a hold of my belt, after I've ensured it's been routed correctly, and slip right on to the Tensioner. From here, we're going to take and rotate it up, and slip our belt onto the alternator pulley. Just like so. As you can see, I want to demonstrate for you, how the tension is released on the belt by rotating this pulley. The pulley is mounted off center, it's kind of like an Eccentric on a Cam shaft, if you rotate it, it's going to pivot up out of the way and as it's spring loaded this way, you can take and fine tune the tension required to hold your belt tight during the various operations of the engine's accessories. Let's slip my socket wrench off there. What you're going to want to do is follow your belt line and all of your pulleys. I'm going to tell you, follow it around all of them. There are some pulleys that are difficult to see and you want to make sure that your belt is not misaligned. If you have your belt misaligned off a rib, what will happen is the rib on your pulleys will begin to eat away at the belt. Causing premature failure. That is the proper way to install your vehicle's alternator belt."