At the risk of sounding stupid . . .
I've been struggling with our beater 2001 GMC Jimmy's electrical system this past week. The thing died when the old battery gave out and a good friend helped me get a new battery in it. Unfortunately, that was not the problem. It would seem that the alternator is. So on Friday I found a cheap reman alternator to put on it but can't figure out how to take the tension off the belt tensioner. The book says there's supposed to be a cut-out to use a half-inch drive ratchet to do the job, only mine has no such hole I can discern. I've got to get the darn thing going before I leave for Lexington on Wednesday. Any suggestions?
Wow. You fellows are good. I got it installed, but of course the battery is still discharged so I'll have to get it charged (jumped off) before I know it worked. Thanks!
18 comments:
If it doesn't have the 1/2 in cutout use a socket on the bolt thats on the pully itself. Don't put so much pressure that it breake free, just enough to get the belt off.
A few cars I have worked on, there was no place to use a ratchet or wrench at all. Instead, I had to use a long wrecking bar, and wedged it down somewhere solid, and leverage against the tensioner to relieve the tension on the belt. It's a lot of pressure, so be careful where your leverage tool is, you could slip and knock your teeth or an eye out if you're not respecting the force of tension.
you might have the kind where you put a socket on the idler pulley's center bolt and yank it (not sure which direction). the tensioner arm should immediately yield to a few pounds of force, and the bolt should not come loose. don't take my word for it though.
Should be a 3/8" square drive hole right in the center of the idler pulley set up. I don't know that model's config, but Chev's like Blazers, etc. have been that way for a long time.
I'll look around and see if I can find a picture for you. Gimme a few minutes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjsWRliEzEc
Check your email.
never a 'stupid' question when it comes to NOT breaking something, or hurting yerself...as stated by others already, whether or not theres a manufactured spot to use a proper tool, all ya need to do is to find a spot to use a prybar and ease the tension off enuff to get the belt off/on...
take care not to bend parts or slip and knock out teeth/slice yerself...
like Jon said take the slack up with the idler pully by pushing it in the diection that will give you less pressure on the belt, follow the routing directions for the new belt ( you should replace it) the routing direcctions should be a diagram on the core support, fan shroud, or hood.
good luck Boss
Buy a Ford truck.
Youtube is your friend :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbMyuclc2Gc
Make sure your pry bar is not levering against a radiator hose or heater hose. Not that I ever did that. ;-)
See breaking news: http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/04/15/live-updates-explosion-at-boston-marathon/
One other precaution, Mike. Make sure the battery is fully charged before starting. Post- Y@K alternators, (and before) have electronic regulators and will read a low charge, (voltage wise) battery as full charge. Not where you want to be, obviously. >Jeff
Dont just jump it , CHARGE IT with a battery charger . You could fry the chi-com rectifier in that "cheap reman" .
Ain't it great having a bunch of wrenchheads reading your blog? Won't add my $.02 this time (mine's a 1990 350 4x4 and a tensioner wrench solved my busted knuckle problem). We probably have all kinds of talent here, chemists, doctors, lawyers, engineers . . . just ask anytime. No such thing as a 'stupid' question.
Try not to use the alt to charge up the batt. It will charge it too quickly (too high an amperage rate), which is hard on the batt. A slow charge is best (hours).
If you reuse the old belt, try to but it back on the same direction it originally ran. Reversing the internal stress can sometimes cause it to fail prematurely.
quote:"We probably have all kinds of talent here, chemists, doctors, lawyers, engineers . . . "unquote
That's good to know in the event...well, you know what I mean.
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