How to replace the serpentine belt on a 2001 Chevy Tracker?

An engine with a serpentine belt uses just that one belt to turn all of the pulleys on an engine, including those that drive accessories. The serpentine belt itself is driven by the crankshaft. When the serpentine belt breaks or goes out for other reasons, all of the accessories will fail, making driving the car difficult if not impossible. Replacing the belt isn't difficult, particularly on a Chevy Tracker, and can be done in 30 minutes.

---------------The ventures serpentine belt can be removed and replaced by releasing pressure on the tensioner. Just take your large socket wrench and insert the square head into the square slot on the tensioner and use it to release tension on the belt. The tensioner is the triangle-shaped arm located just a bit below the alternator. Carefully remove the old belt and then replace the belt as shown on the diagram located on the belt guard. You can put most of the belt in place before using your wrench again to release the tension and finish putting the belt in place. It helps to have a long wrench. I used a socket extension that I attached to the handle. It took me less than 5 minutes. It was pretty much like resetting the chain on a 10 speed bike.

Adjustment

1.6L Engine
Alternator

Adjust the alternator drive belt to obtain 6-8 mm (0.24-0.32 in) deflection for a used belt or 5-6 mm (0.20-0.24 in) deflection for a new belt.

Power Steering Pump & A/C Compressor Belts

Adjust the power steering pump drive belt to obtain 6-9 mm (0.24-0.35 in) deflection.

2.0L Engine
Accessory Drive Belt

The 2.0L engine is equipped with an automatic (spring-loaded) belt tensioner for the accessory drive belt. Adjustment of drive belt tension is not possible.

Cooling Fan Belt

Adjust the cooling fan drive belt to obtain 4-5 mm (0.16-0.20 in) deflection for a new belt or 5-7 mm (0.20-0.27 in) deflection for a used belt.

2.5L Engines
A/C Compressor & Power Steering Pump Belt

Adjust the belt by turning the tension bolt clockwise in order to obtain 4-9 mm (0.16-0.35 in) of belt deflection under 10 kg (22 lbs) of force.

Cooling Fan & Alternator

Adjust the belt by pulling on the alternator in order to obtain 9-11 mm (0.35-0.43 in) of belt deflection under 10 kg (22 lbs) of force.

Belt Tension Inspection

Inspect the drive belt for signs of glazing or cracking. A glazed belt will be perfectly smooth from slippage, while a good belt will have a slight texture of fabric visible. Cracks will usually start at the inner edge of the belt and run outward. All worn or damaged drive belts should be replaced immediately.

Drive Belt Routings

Fig. Accessory serpentine belt routing-2.0L engine

Fig. Accessory V-belt routing-2.0L engine

Fig. Accessory drive belt routing-2.5L engine without A/C

Fig. Accessory drive belt routing-2.5L engine with A/C

Removal & Installation

1.6L Engine
A/C Compressor Belt

1. Disconnect the negative battery cable.
2. Loosen the A/C compressor mounting bolts.
3. Pivot the A/C compressor towards the engine in order to relieve the tension on the belt.
4. Remove the A/C compressor drive belt from the pulleys.

To install:

1. Properly route and install the A/C compressor drive belt on the A/C compressor, the power steering (if equipped), and the crankshaft pulleys.
2. Adjust the A/C compressor drive belt to obtain 6-9 mm (0.24-0.35 in) deflection.
3. Tighten the A/C compressor mounting bolts to 13-20 f t. lbs. (18-28 Nm).
4. Connect the negative battery cable.

Alternator Belt

1. Disconnect the negative battery cable.
2. Remove the power steering pump and the A/C compressor drive belt.
3. Loosen the generator mounting bolts.
4. Pivot the generator towards the engine and remove the accessory drive belt.

To install:

1. Properly route and install the generator drive belt on the pulleys.
2. Adjust the alternator drive belt to obtain 6-8 mm (0.24-0.32 in) deflection for a used belt or 5-6 mm (0.20-0.24 in) deflection for a new belt.
3. Tighten the generator mounting bolts to 17 ft. lbs. (23 Nm).
4. Install the power steering and the A/C compressor drive belt.
5. Connect the negative battery cable.

Power Steering Pump Belt

1. Disconnect the negative battery cable.
2. Loosen the power steering pump mounting bolts.
3. Pivot the power steering pump towards the engine in order to relieve the tension on the belt.
4. Remove the power steering pump drive belt from the pulleys.

To install:

1. Properly route and install the power steering pump drive belt on the power steering pump and the crankshaft pulleys.
2. Adjust the power steering pump drive belt to obtain 6-9 mm (0.24-0.35 in) deflection.
3. Tighten the power steering pump mounting bolts to 22 ft. lbs. (30 Nm).
4. Connect the negative battery cable.

2.0L Engine
Accessory Drive Belt

1. Disconnect the negative battery cable.
2. Use a wrench and rotate the belt tensioner clockwise.
3. With pressure applied to the wrench, and tension relieved from the drive belt, remove the accessory drive belt.
4. Inspect the belt for cuts, cracks, wear, deformation or other abnormalities. Replace as necessary.

To install:

1. Properly route and install the accessory drive belt onto the drive pulleys.
2. Use a wrench and rotate the belt tensioner clockwise.
3. With pressure applied to the wrench, install the accessory drive belt.
4. With the accessory drive belt installed properly, release the belt tensioner.
5. Inspect for the following conditions:
   
   
   That the belt is properly installed on all pulleys.

   When a new belt is correctly installed, the hash mark will be within the indicated range on the tensioner.

   If the tension indicator mark is to the left of the hash mark, the belt must be replaced.
   
   
6. Connect the negative battery cable.

Cooling Fan Belt

1. Disconnect the negative battery cable.
2. Loosen the adjusting bolt and the pivot bolt.
3. Remove the tension on the fan belt by rotating the tension bolt counterclockwise.
4. Remove the 4 fan nuts. Use a second wrench to hold the fan shaft.
5. Detach the fan from the pulley hub and remove the fan belt.

To install:

1. Install the fan belt while holding the fan away from the pulley hub.
2. Install the fan to the hub.
3. Install the 4 fan nuts. Use a second wrench to hold the fan shaft and tighten the fan nuts to 97 inch lbs. (11 Nm).
4. Install the fan belt properly on the pulleys.
5. Turn the tension bolt clockwise in order to obtain the specified belt deflection under 10 kg (22 lbs) of force.
6. Adjust the cooling fan drive belt to obtain 4-5 mm (0.16-0.20 in) deflection for a new belt or 5-7 mm (0.20-0.27 in) deflection for a used belt.
7. Tighten the adjusting bolt and the pivot bolt while holding the correct tension on the fan belt. Tighten the bolts to 33 ft. lbs. (45 Nm).
8. Connect the negative battery cable.

2.5L Engine
A/C Compressor & Power Steering Pump Belt

1. Disconnect the negative battery cable.
2. Loosen the bolts on the drive belt tensioner.
3. Remove the drive belt.

To install:

1. Install the drive belt properly to the pulleys and tensioner.
2. Using a hexagon wrench, turn the tension bolt clockwise in order to obtain 4-9 mm (0.16-0.35 in) of belt deflection under 10 kg (22 lbs) of force.
3. Tighten the tensioner bolts to 18 ft. lbs. (25 Nm).
4. Connect the negative battery cable.

Cooling Fan & Alternator

1. Disconnect the negative battery cable.
2. Remove the power steering drive belt.
3. Loosen the adjusting bolt and pivot bolt on the alternator.
4. Remove the drive belt.

To install:

1. Install the drive belt properly to the pulleys.
2. Remove slack from the belt by pulling on the alternator in order to obtain 9-11 mm (0.35-0.43 in) of belt deflection under 10 kg (22 lbs) of force.
3. Tighten the 2 alternator bolts to 17 ft. lbs. (23 Nm).
4. Install the power steering drive belt.
5. Connect the negative battery cable.

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Locate the belt routing diagram for your engine in your owner's manual. If you can't find the diagram or the manual, look for the diagram on the fan shroud. If you don't find a diagram there, draw a diagram yourself that shows the route your serpentine belt takes around the pulleys.

Open the hood and locate the tensioner on the front of the engine block, toward the top of the engine block. Place the socket on a 1/2-inch breaker bar and turn the tensioner clockwise to allow the belt to fall slack (if the belt hasn't fallen off already). Pull the belt off of the pulley system at this time.

Run the replacement belt around the pulleys until you can't go any further, starting on the bottom and following your belt routing diagram.

Turn the tensioner clockwise using the breaker bar and socket, then run the belt around the remaining pulleys as well as underneath the tensioner. Slowly return the tensioner to its normal position.

Look at the belt and make sure there are no bends or kinks along the path, then double-check that it's routed correctly.

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More details:---

Locate the serpentine belt route diagram near the hood release latch under the hood. If the diagram is not present, draw one. The drawn diagram must accurately depict the exact route of the serpentine belt and note if it goes under or over each specific pulley.

Locate the spring tensioner pulley, which is in the front of the engine compartment, behind the fan. The tensioner pulley resembles all of the other pulleys except that it is affixed to a spring-loaded arm.

Disconnect the negative battery cable from the battery terminal. Attach the socket wrench to the square peg in the center of the tensioner pulley and rotate it counter-clockwise until the tension is removed from the serpentine belt. Remove the serpentine belt from the tensioner pulley. Slowly release the wrench and remove the belt entirely from the engine.

Slip the new belt in to the engine and route it according to the diagram, making sure to leave the spring tensioner pulley for last. Make sure that you follow the diagram precisely, because if the belt is installed improperly, it can break components.

Rotate the wrench on the spring tensioner pulley counter-clockwise and slide the new belt on to that pulley. Slowly release the wrench to return the tension to the belt.