Do you need to remove the belt tensioner to replace the serpentine belt?

There are belt tensioners and there are serpentine belts not sure what a tensioner belt is. You do not have to have a belt tensioner on a motor to remove a serpentine belt.

How To replace Install Engine Serpentine Belt 1996 99 Buick Lesabre 3... How To replace Install Serpentine Belt tensioner 1996 98 Buick Lesabre...

These two videos will help you get the job done. Good Luck !!!

You'll need a Serpentine Belt Tool and a socket set.

Rotate the Caravan's serpentine belt tensioner assembly clockwise to relieve the tension on the belt. Slip the belt off the tensioner with your free hand before rotating the tensioner back to its home position. Remove the tool.
Extract the two mounting bolts that hold the serpentine belt tensioner assembly to the Caravan's front engine cover using your socket set. Depending on your physical size and dexterity, you may find this easier to accomplish through the top of the engine well or through the passenger-side wheel well.
Pull the old serpentine belt tensioner assembly out of the Caravan's engine bay by hand. Place the new serpentine belt tensioner assembly on the Caravan's front engine cover and bolt it in using your socket set.
Rotate the new serpentine belt tensioner assembly clockwise with the serpentine belt tool and then place the belt on the pulley by hand. Rotate the new serpentine belt tensioner assembly back into place. Remove the tool and close the hood.

1. 1 Check to ensure the Sienna's engine is cold, then make sure the Sienna is in park, the ignition is in the off position and the key is removed from the ignition to prevent any possibility of the engine engaging during the serpentine belt replacement.
   
2. 2 Open the hood and locate the serpentine belt routing diagram sticker on the side of the engine casing. Study it for a moment before removing the existing belt. It is essential the new belt be installed exactly as the diagram indicates.
   
3. 3 Find the tensioner pulley, the main pulley that controls the serpentine belt, and fit a 1/2-inch socket wrench over the self-tensioner on the outside of the pulley.
   
4. 4 Pull the wrench to the left to move the pulley forward, which loosens the belt, then remove the belt.
   
5. 5 Compare the old serpentine belt with the new, replacement belt for length, width and number of grooves on the belt's underside. Be certain the replacement belt is the right part.
   
6. 6 Fit the new belt on to each pulley according to the serpentine belt routing diagram on the manufacturer's sticker, or according to the drawing made prior to removing the old belt. Fit the new belt on to the tensioner pulley last, again applying pressure on the pulley's self-tensioner with the half-inch socket wrench to loosen the pulley.
   
7. 7 Release the pressure on the self tensioner and allow the tensioner pulley to ease back into place, thereby tightening the new serpentine belt with the appropriate tension.
   
8. 8 Remove the wrench and close the hood.
   

Thank you and good luck,
Lee

Click on the following free, direct Link. It has all the Serpentine Belt Diagrams you will need for the 1.9L 4-Cylinder Engine and various Engine Options (AC/No AC etc.), complete with Instructional and Directional Diagrams.

http://www.2carpros.com/car_repair_information/year/1996/make/saturn/model/sl/1996_saturn_sl_drive_belt_routing_diagram.htm

Let me know if this helped or if you have additional information or questions. Feel Free to contact me at FixYa.com!

"HOW TO":
Standard Rules to Removal the Serpentine Belt with an Automatic Tensioner:
1. Find the Tensioner(s). (See Diagrams on Link)
2. Using a Serpentine Belt Tensioner Tool, Or Wrench OR Ratchet, Rotate/Move the Tensioner USING THE AVAILABLE NUT (on the Pulley or Arm Base) OR the OPENING (3/8ths or 1/2 inch square opening) rotating the Tensioner Pulley/Arm - moving it away from contact with the belt and towards the area where the belt is not in contact with the Tensioner Pulley. The Tensioner is spring loaded, and is hard to rotate/move.
3. Remove the loosened belt off one of the other more easily accessed Pulleys.
4. DO NOT quickly release the Tensioner, but gently allow the Tensioner to rest in its closed position.

Standard Rules for Installing the Serpentine Belt with an Automatic Tensioner:
a. Pick a Pulley that is most easily accessed. This will usually be on top. This will be the last Pulley that the belt will go on.
b. Using the Diagram: Install the new Serpentine Belt on the remainder of the Pulleys....over, under, left right.
c. Using a Serpentine Belt Tensioner Tool or Wrench or Ratchet Tool: Rotate/Move the Tensioner Pulley/Arm "away" from Belt contact area on the Tensioner. This spring is pretty hard and with a new belt, it will be even harder to install. Rotate/Move this to as-close to the maximum allowed inorder to have enough slack in the belt to get it up and over the last pulley.
d. Using your other hand - Pull the Belt up and over the Last remaining Pulley.
e. Before releasing the pressure on the Tensioner, visually inspect the remainder Pulleys and the Belts' Positioning on them.

The Tensioner Pulley Bearings are failing and either the Tensioner Pulley or the Tensioner Assembly (Pulley, Arm and Base) must be removed and replaced.

Click on the following free direct Link. It has several of the Serpentine Belt Diagrams and Tensioners that are possible with your 4.3L V6 engine.
http://www.2carpros.com/car_repair_information/year/1998/make/gmc/model/jimmy/1998_gmc_jimmy_drive_belt_routing_diagram.htm
1. Remove the Serpentine Belt.
"HOW TO":
Standard Rules to Removal the Serpentine Belt with a Tensioner:
A. Find the Tensioner(s). (See Diagrams on Link)
B. Using a Serpentine Belt Tensioner Tool, Or Wrench OR Ratchet, Rotate/Move the Tensioner USING THE AVAILABLE NUT (on the Pulley or Arm Base) OR the OPENING (3/8ths or 1/2 inch square opening) rotating the Tensioner Pulley/Arm - moving it away from contact with the belt and towards the area where the belt is not in contact with the Tensioner Pulley. The Tensioner is spring loaded, and is hard to rotate/move.
C. Remove the loosened belt off one of the other more easily accessed Pulleys.
D. DO NOT quickly release the Tensioner, but gently allow the Tensioner to rest in its closed position.

Removing the Tensioner Pulley: See the Diagrams in the Link.
After the Belt has been removed, with the Tensioner resting:
DEPENDING ON WHAT TYPE TENSIONER:
IF the Tensioner Pulley itself HAS a Bolt Head showing, SOME of these bolts can be removed and the Tensioner Pulley replaced.
IF the Tensioner Pulley itself DOES NOT HAVE a Bolt Head showing, then go to the Tensioner Base located at the end of the Tensioner Arm. This should have a Bolt Head Showing. Remove this Bolt and the whole Tensioner Assembly will com off.

When replacing the Tensioner Assembly - MAKE SURE you place the protruding "nipple" on the underside base of the Tesnioner into the appropriate cavity on the engine face.

Standard Rules for Installing the Serpentine Belt with Tensioners:
a. Pick a Pulley that is most easily accessed. This will usually be on top. This will be the last Pulley that the belt will go on.
b. Using the Diagram: Install the new Serpentine Belt on the remainder of the Pulleys....over, under, left right.
c. Using a Serpentine Belt Tensioner Tool or Wrench or Ratchet Tool: Rotate/Move the Tensioner Pulley/Arm "away" from Belt contact area on the Tensioner. This spring is pretty hard and with a new belt, it will be even harder to install. Rotate/Move this to as-close to the maximum allowed inorder to have enough slack in the belt to get it up and over the last pulley.
d. Using your other hand - Pull the Belt up and over the Last remaining Pulley.
e. Before releasing the pressure on the Tensioner, visually inspect the remainder Pulleys and the Belts' Positioning on them

Let me know if this helped, or if you have additional information or questions. Feel Free to contact me at FixYa.Com!

Click on the following direct Link. It has the Serpentine Belt Diagram that you will need depending on your engine size (2.0L or 3.0L) and your options (AC/No AC ect.).
http://www.2carpros.com/car_repair_information/year/2001/make/mazda/model/tribute/2001_mazda_tribute_drive_belt_routing_diagram.htm

Standard Rules to Removal the Serpentine Belt with a Tensioner:
1. Find the Tensioner(s). (See Diagrams on Link)
2. Using a Serpentine Belt Tensioner Tool, Or Wrench OR Ratchet, Rotate/Move the Tensioner USING THE AVAILABLE NUT (on the Pulley or Arm Base) OR the OPENING (3/8ths or 1/2 inch square opening) rotating the Tensioner Pulley/Arm - moving it away from contact with the belt and towards the area where the belt is not in contact with the Tensioner Pulley. The Tensioner is spring loaded, and is hard to rotate/move.
3. Remove the loosened belt off one of the other more easily accessed Pulleys.
4. DO NOT quickly release the Tensioner, but gently allow the Tensioner to rest in its closed position.

Standard Rules for Installing the Serpentine Belt with Tensioners:
a. Pick a Pulley that is most easily accessed. This will usually be on top. This will be the last Pulley that the belt will go on.
b. Using the Diagram: Install the new Serpentine Belt on the remainder of the Pulleys....over, under, left right.
c. Using a Serpentine Belt Tensioner Tool or Wrench or Ratchet Tool: Rotate/Move the Tensioner Pulley/Arm "away" from Belt contact area on the Tensioner. This spring is pretty hard and with a new belt, it will be even harder to install. Rotate/Move this to as-close to the maximum allowed inorder to have enough slack in the belt to get it up and over the last pulley.
d. Using your other hand - Pull the Belt up and over the Last remaining Pulley.
e. Before releasing the pressure on the Tensioner, visually inspect the remainder Pulleys and the Belts' Positioning on them

Let me know if this helped, or if you have additional information or questions. Feel Free to contact me at FixYa.Com!

Click on the following free direct Link. It has several of the Serpentine Belt Diagrams and Tensioners that are possible with your 2.0L 4-Cylinder engine and engine options (AC/No AC, etc.).

http://www.2carpros.com/car_repair_information/year/1990/make/pontiac/model/sunbird/1990_pontiac_sunbird_drive_belt_routing_diagram.htm

A. Remove the Serpentine Belt.
"HOW TO":
Standard Rules to Removal the Serpentine Belt with a Tensioner:
1. Find the Tensioner(s). (See Diagrams on Link)
2. Using a Serpentine Belt Tensioner Tool, Or Wrench OR Ratchet, Rotate/Move the Tensioner USING THE AVAILABLE NUT (on the Pulley or Arm Base) OR the OPENING (3/8ths or 1/2 inch square opening) rotating the Tensioner Pulley/Arm - moving it away from contact with the belt and towards the area where the belt is not in contact with the Tensioner Pulley. The Tensioner is spring loaded, and is hard to rotate/move.
3. Remove the loosened belt off one of the other more easily accessed Pulleys.
4. DO NOT quickly release the Tensioner, but gently allow the Tensioner to rest in its closed position.

B. Remove the Tensioner:
Removing the Tensioner Pulley: See the Diagrams in the Link.
After the Belt has been removed, with the Tensioner resting:
DEPENDING ON WHAT TYPE TENSIONER:
(1.) IF the Tensioner Pulley itself HAS a Bolt Head showing, SOME of these bolts can be removed and the Tensioner Pulley replaced.
(2.) IF the Tensioner Pulley itself DOES NOT HAVE a Bolt Head showing, then go to the Tensioner Base located at the end of the Tensioner Arm. This should have a Bolt Head Showing. Remove this Bolt and the whole Tensioner Assembly will come off.
(3.) Some Tensioner Assembly's need you to locate and remove mounting bolts.

If Applicable: When replacing the Tensioner Assembly - MAKE SURE you place the protruding "nipple" on the underside base of the Tensioner into the appropriate cavity on the engine face.

Standard Rules for Installing the Serpentine Belt with Tensioners:
a. Pick a Pulley that is most easily accessed. This will usually be on top. This will be the last Pulley that the belt will go on.
b. Using the Diagram: Install the new Serpentine Belt on the remainder of the Pulleys....over, under, left right.
c. Using a Serpentine Belt Tensioner Tool or Wrench or Ratchet Tool: Rotate/Move the Tensioner Pulley/Arm "away" from Belt contact area on the Tensioner. This spring is pretty hard and with a new belt, it will be even harder to install. Rotate/Move this to as-close to the maximum allowed inorder to have enough slack in the belt to get it up and over the last pulley.
d. Using your other hand - Pull the Belt up and over the Last remaining Pulley.
e. Before releasing the pressure on the Tensioner, visually inspect the remainder Pulleys and the Belts' Positioning on them

Let me know if this helped, or if you have additional information or questions. Feel Free to contact me at FixYa.Com!

When this idler wears out it makes a growling noise that changes with engine RPM. A Bad Idler Pulley May Wobble & Wear Out Your Serpentine Belt Prematurely. Get Rid Of That Horrible Noise & Change.

Remove the serpentine belt by using a breakover bar, ratcher or serpentine belt removal tool with the correct size socket for the pulley mounting bolt. Rotate tensioner arm to release tension. Remove the bel. Using the proper size socket, remove the tensiones mounting bolt and remove tensioner.

Before installing the new tensioner, make sure the mounting surface for the tensiones is clean and free rust or other obstructions. Find the locator pin hole and rotate the replacement tensiones until the locator pin and the hole line uo. Insert the pin into the hole. Reinstall the mounting bilt and torque down to tight fit.

Rotate the tensioner arm to install the serpentine belt. Make sure the belt is correctly fitted to all pulley in the drive system. Start the engine to check for any problems. Extreme care should be taken when reinstalling the serpentine belt because some of the pulleys are located in remote positions ans it is very hard to see that belt is seated properly in all of the grooves. If the belt isn't seated properly, the belt can "ride out" of the grooves and the belt can be damaged.

Also must review the ZJ Repair Manual Secc-7-Cooling-System for graphics references.

Hope helped with this. Remember rated this help. Good luck.

Or use a long sturdy flatheat screwdriver to pry it out to loosen the tension. Tighten it, then slip off the belt.