how to remove the belt on my 99 olds alero?

Question

i need to replace the belt on my 99 olds alero... where do i start?

Answer 1

Anthony, I use a a serpentine belt tension release tool. Most auto parts stores have them. I'll try to describe: It's a straight bar 18" long 1" wide and 3/16 thick. At the end there is a 3/8 square drive for a metric socket or the 3/8 drive on the bar slips directly into the spring loaded serpentine tension pulley bracket.
Carefully follow the path of the belt and you will find the odd 2 1/2 -3.0 diameter mechanism that puts tension on the belt.
As the other person suggested draw a belt path on a piece of paper if it's not routed by a sticker on the top radiator shroud.

Answer 2

Locate the tensioner on the front area of the motor. It will either have a notch in it that you can fit an L-handle onto or it will have an ear on the end that you can install a regular open end wrench onto. Then release the tension by pulling of pushing on the wrench. When the tension releases, slip the belt off and slowly let the wrench come back. Now feed the old belt off being careful to notice how it is routed into all of the pulleys and feed the new one in the same way. While holding the belt over the last pulley to yet have the belt, tension up the tensioner again and hold it, then finish slipping the belt around the last pulley and then release the wrench slowly. Recheck and good luck.