i am having the worst time in the world trying to release the tension on the serpentine belt... some on please help me out! be very specific if you can.. i have read every thread on here about this and i still cant do it! pics would be nice too also, any special tools? do i need tamper resistant torx bits? thanks in advance for any help!

 

Belt.jpg

Need an E10 Torx, mine was not a "security" type. (a 3/8" drive bar works well)
The tensioner pulley is #3 in the diagram. Using the E10 on the pulley give it a 1/8 to a1/4 of a turn and the tension will release.
While the tension is released slip belt off/on. (without pinching yourself )

 

my car is not an srt.. so the pullies are different...

 

Basically the same just missing the the top two pullies.
Your belt goes from #7 over #8 down to #2 (skip #9 & #1)

Tensioner is in the same position.

 

i loosened the bolt in the center of the tensioner pully but nothing happened... seriously i need help.. is it so simple that i am looking straight through it?

 

You do not loosen the bolt. You apply pressure to the spring tensioner through the center bolt. The tensioner will "swing" and relieve the pressure from the belt. Nothing is removed.
(rotate as if tightening)

 

which way and direction does the pulley "swing"? i just dont get why i cant do this.. its so simple n every other car ive worked on.

i tightened the bolt up and continued to rotate as if tightening but nothing happened. maybe im not doing the right bolt? is it the bolt that holds the pullley on?

 

E10 Torx in the center of the pulley. I used a small breaker bar, maybe 15", I am not sure you could do it with a standard 3/8" ratchet - there is quite a bit of force required.
What are you using?

Pulley will swing towards the crank pully.

 

i am using a regular 3/8 ratchet

 

You will need a longer handle - the tension is pretty strong.
(or you are going to chew up some knuckles)

 

it wont budge.. nothing i do seems to work.. is there something else i have to do before i try to remove the tension? is there a bolt locking it in or something? i am about to strip out the center bolt from pushing so hard..

 

does it swing down towards the crank pully or up towards the crank pully?

 

Up I believe - it should be clear looking at it - one way would tighten the belt other would loosen.
Sorry only did this once.


There is nothing that needed to be done first - just release tension and remove belt. Sorry you are having such a time with this.

 

Image0001.jpg

 

but if i rotate it counter clockwise then the bolt comes loose.. ? is it a different movement than a normal ratchet movement? i bought a 3 foot long steel bar to get more leverage but still cant get it to do what i want.. if i go clockwise i get nothing but a very tight bolt.. if i go counter clockwise i get a loose bolt..

 

There is a jam nut on the bolt.
Tighten the stud using the E10, then tighten the jam nut (looks to be about 15mm but not sure on the size)
Once jam nut is tight the E10 should allow you to release tension without loosening the stud.

 

ok so i finally got it! anthony at tvt helped me to understand.. it isnt the torx bolt that holds the pully on.. it is a fixed "nut" that is attatched to the left of the tensioner pulley. you can use your lug wrench to release it. push it counter clockwise with a bit of force and it will come.

 

Hi Guys,

I am new owner of an '04 Crossfire. I bought a new serpentine belt to keep in the car as a spare or until the original needs replaced. With 22K on it, the belt seems to be in good shape yet.

After reading this thread, I couldn't believe all the posting about releasing tension on this belt that seems so easy when looking at it. This is my first FOREIGN built car so I figured I better check my self. That pulley bolt head size is a T50H bit. Actually I refer to it as a T50 Tamper Proof bit. Turning the bolt clockwise only caused the belt to be tighter. Turning the bolt counter-clockwise only loosened the bolt. I saw no jam nut as previous mentioned.



After further investigation with a mirror I found the answer. There is a protruding hex casted into the tensioner just below the belt where you can't see it. New one on me! Using a deep 17mm socket and ratchet, the tensioner can moved. The longer the ratchet handle, the better. No pry bars needed.

Did MB use more than one type of tensioner on this engine?

Here is a pic of what I found on mine to help others. James

TENSION2.jpg

TENSION4.jpg

 

Here is something I came across in the PDF files...

TENSION5.jpg

 

That is nothing like the pulley on the SRT.
The center pulley torx is "male". Simply put the E10 on it and turn and the tension is released and the belt comes off.
Now I see why what I was explaining was not working.