How install or loosen serpentine belt without removing radiator, etc.?

[Pancho]

How install or loosen serpentine belt without removing radiator, etc.?

Can't seem to get to the belt tensioner w/o removing loads of hardware.

[MarcusF]

*I've never done this. After looking at that square peg of an engine in that square hole, I paid the dealer. 30 minutes and $150 later they were done*

Then I found out there's a 17 mm bolt under the belt going to the tensioner pulley. I think you can access the bolt from underneath with the splash shield removed. I've read this can be done all from on top after the fan is removed, but I think the driver's side radiator hose would be in the way. And who want's to pull the fan? At any rate, turn that bolt counterclockwise to release the belt tension. There's a notch on the right side of the tensioner were you can wedge a pin in to hold the tensioner in the released position.

Please either post back or PM me and let me know if this is the correct way to do it, or I sent you in the wrong direction. Also, if someone 100% knows exactly how this is done please add details to this thread.

[sfclk]

after an idler breaking and tearing up a belt...

marcus, as usual, posted reliable info. i have a 320, so i'm not sure about what's in the way of the tensioner.

[Pancho]

Got it done.
Took me about 1 hour to figure how to do it.
After that, actual job took about 20 min.
I did it all from the top of the engine.
1. Release two clips from the top of the radiator, that retain the fan shroud. After the shroud is loose, manipulate it, wriggle it, mess with it, until you can move is away from the tensioner pulley.
2. Relieve the tensioner pulley. How? I used a 3/8 In. rachet drive, with a torx socket. It's tight. You'll probably knock some skin off of your knuckles. Fit it onto the torx stud on the tensioner pulley. Put an extension on the drive. I use a 2 foot piece of cast iron pipe from the pluimbing dept. at Home Depot (Sometimes called a 2 foot nipple.), which I slide over the handle of the drive. Get the racheting action set so that when you pull the extension handle to the passenger side, it will relive pressure on the belt. I was able to wedge the handle against the steering pump, and it held there. I was never able to find the locking hole that's supposedly keeps this tensioner in place.
3. Slide the old belt off at the small alternator pulley. It's easy to get to, and it's a small pulley. Remove the old belt.
4. Get a new belt. I got a very good V belt from Oreilly’s, Gates #KO6O942, $42.99. Dealer wanted $72.
5. To install it, you will need to remove the drive, extension handle etc. in order to get the belt threaded. I tried a few ways, and found that the only real way to do it is to fit it on from the lower pulleys first. You might need a long screwdriver or rod to move the belt onto the pulleys. I got my belt/pulley diagram from my WIS software. The last pulley should be the alternator pulley. Refit the drive and extension handle onto the tensioner again. Relieve the tension, and slip the belt onto the alternator pulley, and you are done. With the extension handle I was able to use one hand to hold the tensioner, and my other hand to manipulate the belt onto the alternator pulley.
6. Give the belt a good look over to make sure it is seated correctly. Before you start your engine, make sure to remove the drive from the tensioner, and make sure to refit the fan shroud. Give the engine a tweak, just to make sure nothing, tools, etc., was left in the way of the fan or belt.

I hope that this is clear enough to be understood.