Belt Tensioner Replacement

[The Crow]

I need to replace my tensioner and was wondering how to do it? Is it hard, is there a special tool required? Thanks for any input..... :D

[pontiac nino]

Nope, should be just a size 13 socket if im not mistaken. The 3.8 belt tensioner is about the same as the 3.4, voila! :D

[memphis_raines]

I just did mine a couple of days ago. 13mm socket, turn the bolt to the right and it'll just fall off. Have a hammer handy though. I had to hit the ratchet handle a few times to break it loose enough to turn it.

[FlamespikeMST1]

yup, or a 1/2 inch will do her in just the same

[The Crow]

Thanks, but thats to change the Pulley I need to change the whole assembly. Any tips.

[ January 10, 2005, 12:14 PM: Message edited by: The Crow ]

[98Camaro3.8]

Here's the info out of the service manual: http://www.leadingedgesim.com/mkapro.../Tensioner.mht

You may want to pick up an extra set of those bypass pipes, as they break real easily. On my 98, I couldn't even get the one out of the lower intake without ruining it.

You may not need it for an 01, but the part numbers are:
24503423 for the tensioner to lower intake (includes o-rings). Tensioner to front cover: 24502846 (o-ring on the front cover side), 25537068 (o-ring on the tensioner side), and the pipe itself is 12565082.

[The Crow]

Thanks, Great info.

[Distephano]

Originally posted by 98Camaro3.8:
You may want to pick up an extra set of those bypass pipes, as they break real easily. On my 98, I couldn't even get the one out of the lower intake without ruining it.

Yep, for some reason when I pulled my engine, I pulled it and had a hell of a time doing it without wrecking these pipes. They are really a ***** to get outa there.

[mike h]

i just did it like a week ago. some retard at the local shop put my serpentine belt on wrong and also in the wrong size, and it f-ed my tensioner pulley up real bad. once i get my cam ill take a pic of it its pretty funny, the bearings inside melted and stuck together so the pulley couldnt turn anymore and the serpentine belt fell off and then my battery died after i got home b/c the alternator wasnt connected.

anyways,
to replace the pulley get a socket wrench and take the pulley off after taking the serp belt off. then once u put the new one on (very simple) use the socket wrench to pull on it to make it possible to put the belt back on. its a two man job if you asked me, the belt is hard to get on by yourself as it always is falling off and stuff. the part number for the 3.8 are 89007, make sure it isnt 89006 b/c that is for the 3.4 engine and it is too big. beleive me i know, at first i got the wring idler pulley and belt (both for 3.4 instead of 3.8) and since the pulley is bigger the belt wont fit. i had to return stuff like 3 times lol.

[98Camaro3.8]

Originally posted by mike h:
i just did it like a week ago. some retard at the local shop put my serpentine belt on wrong and also in the wrong size, and it f-ed my tensioner pulley up real bad. once i get my cam ill take a pic of it its pretty funny, the bearings inside melted and stuck together so the pulley couldnt turn anymore and the serpentine belt fell off and then my battery died after i got home b/c the alternator wasnt connected.

anyways,
to replace the pulley get a socket wrench and take the pulley off after taking the serp belt off. then once u put the new one on (very simple) use the socket wrench to pull on it to make it possible to put the belt back on. its a two man job if you asked me, the belt is hard to get on by yourself as it always is falling off and stuff. the part number for the 3.8 are 89007, make sure it isnt 89006 b/c that is for the 3.4 engine and it is too big. beleive me i know, at first i got the wring idler pulley and belt (both for 3.4 instead of 3.8) and since the pulley is bigger the belt wont fit. i had to return stuff like 3 times lol.

You might want to read the thread again...he doesn't want to change the pulley. ;)

[mike h]

Originally posted by 98Camaro3.8:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by mike h:
i just did it like a week ago. some retard at the local shop put my serpentine belt on wrong and also in the wrong size, and it f-ed my tensioner pulley up real bad. once i get my cam ill take a pic of it its pretty funny, the bearings inside melted and stuck together so the pulley couldnt turn anymore and the serpentine belt fell off and then my battery died after i got home b/c the alternator wasnt connected.

anyways,
to replace the pulley get a socket wrench and take the pulley off after taking the serp belt off. then once u put the new one on (very simple) use the socket wrench to pull on it to make it possible to put the belt back on. its a two man job if you asked me, the belt is hard to get on by yourself as it always is falling off and stuff. the part number for the 3.8 are 89007, make sure it isnt 89006 b/c that is for the 3.4 engine and it is too big. beleive me i know, at first i got the wring idler pulley and belt (both for 3.4 instead of 3.8) and since the pulley is bigger the belt wont fit. i had to return stuff like 3 times lol.

You might want to read the thread again...he doesn't want to change the pulley. ;) </font>[/QUOTE]i just read the 1st post with the initial Q in it, oops. o well.

[v6droptop]

FYI the dealer now stocks a metal pulley to replace the plastic one
part #24506756

[98Camaro3.8]

Originally posted by v6droptop:
FYI the dealer now stocks a metal pulley to replace the plastic one
part #24506756

FYI, that's the stock pulley. ;)

[v6droptop]

stock pulley is plastic
this one I just bought last week is metal.
this is the part# on my receipt.
The trouble with plastic one is when the bearing starts to go it will melt the plastic and pulley will fly apart,belt will throw and damage lots of other stuff when it does.(ask me how I know) the metal pulley wont disenigrate when bearing goes bad.

[98Camaro3.8]

I'm not sure what you're thinking of, but 24506756 is the stock pulley, which is indeed metal. 95-96 had a different pulley if you didn't have a/c but did have a heater. I don't know if that's metal or not. Everything else has the metal one stock.

Do you have any pics of the one you broke?