I am changing the serpentine belt on a 97 Pontiac Sunfire GT 2.4L.

1 ANSWERS

1. amomipais82
   

   Hi There,
   With all the false information people are saying about one of the simplist repairs to do... changing the serpentine belt..I have decided to take 30 min and compile all of this usefull info.. This is valad for 95-97 2.2L and 98-02 2200 SFI......
   
   I will even include a color picture to help everyone figure out where there tensioner is, along with naming the other pullys that the serpentine belt rides on... lets begin...
   
   http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/500/1724872200.JPG
   
   Brown circle- Power steering
   Blue circle- Idler pully
   Purple circle- Alternator pully
   Green circle- A/C if applicable
   Yellow circle- Water Pump pully
   Pink circle- Crankshaft Pully
   
   and finally...
   
   Red Arrow points to your tensioner.. get a socket wrench w/o socket and place square end into hole or knotch w/e you want to call it and push down to release pressure, and short breaker bar may also be needed to get you more leverage... if you cannot figure out the tensior from this then you need to consult a mechanic or have a buddy lend you a hand. I would be more than willin to help anyone out in CNY.....other printed on the top of your hood is a diagram on how to re weave the belt on the pullys and on the back of some of the new belt boxes..
   
   Note:
   Now on the older 2.2l and 2.0 engines the tensioner is the idler pully, GM found out later down the line that it was best to just add a tensioner instead of using the idler... I don't have an exact year of when they changed becuase i have changed them on 96 with the tensioner and i've been gettin some feed back that 97's haven't so... if you the tensioner above use that and not the idler and if no tensioner use the blue circle... idler pully...Note
   
   
   A serpentine belt is the only drive "belt" not to be confused with the drive chain, that a cavalier has and its also one of the most overlooked very important parts of your vehicle. Without it.. your basically going nowhere.
   
   How do I know when i need a new belt?...
   
   Here are some signs...
   
   ~Noticeable deep v cracks
   ~High pictched squeeling that only gets louder when more time passes
   
   Over the years while driving my cavy, i have notice when the car starts up there was a squeeling noise comming from that part of the engine while the hood was closed so i took note of it and figured it was nothing. But as more time passed it had gotten worse. So i pyhsically inspected the belt and noticed it was dry rotting and had cracks deeper than allowed by NYS state inspection. So it was time for a new belt. When cracks form in the belt it causes the cracks to slide against eachother causing the annoying noise...
   
   What brands are there?
   
   Personally when i buy somthing that you need to be realiable and good quality cheaper isn't better...
   
   Here are some brands i know of...
   
   GM brand.. buy at dealership
   Delco
   Goodyear gatorback Poly V
   
   All are of quality and serve their purpose.. Delco has a few differnet quality line ranging in price from 17 here in NY up to 27.99 for their POLY V... I personally run the Goodyear GatorBack POLY V since its the quietest belt made( Personal opinion and their sales pitch but so far its has held true)... After tax it was 32 somthing at Autozone... don't buy it from a goodyear Gemni store...they quoted me 60 somthing...

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