Loosing the Belt Tensioner

[porteri@email.sc.edu]

Does anyone have a good way to loosen the belt tensioner to get the alternators out? I think it takes a 3/8" drive but the fan is so close to the belt that I can't get my hand in there to do anything. Anyone know of any videos/instructions on this?

[WildStyle]

Dual alternators?

I take the inner fender liner out on the passenger side. You can get a 3/8" drive ratchet in there and loosen the tensioner. One trick is once you get it to move, lock it out by installing a pin or nail into it to hold it locked out.

Single alt is much easier, remove the CAC pipe clamps and pull it forwards, then its super easy to get to the belt tensioner.

[porteri@email.sc.edu]

Yea I've got the dual alternator set-up and the plastic housing around the fan has a bunch of 1" long fins separated about 2" apart from each other and it makes it difficult to get your hand and a wrench in to the tensioner. I'm thinking I'll take a dremel and cut these off, they serve no real purpose other than preventing you from getting close to the fan. I got the top one off finally but it looks like I'll have to take out the wheel well fender to get to the bolts on the bottom one. Thanks for the tip.

[CT9AIX]

Remove the upper rad shroud which takes all of 5 minutes. Then you can get right at the tensioner by moving the fan itself to position the large spacing inbetween the fins into the right spot to get a rachet in the tensioner. Removing the fender liner may work but I've never seen it done

[cmalinowski]

Originally Posted by CT9AIX

Remove the upper rad shroud which takes all of 5 minutes. ...

That thing looked harder to do than 5mins to me... but I'm kind of inept when it comes to these things. I got to my tensioner from below while my friend guided the belt.