just wanted to say great video, i worked on automoblies for 40+ years, now legs and back don`t work like i want them to but i still mess with cars, i enjoy you viedo and wished that they had been around when i ran my garage.
Thanks for your quick reply! I am changing the belt on my exact model in this video on my own today. Another question. Do I get the belt with or with AC specs? I bought the one with AC. Thanks for the post!
@opinionatorX Ok Great! I did get that one. I just came back in from trying to put belt on. Should I take wheel Off? I think I got it on without using the tensioner? There is slack. Am I doing something wrong? Also my battery is dead right now. I think because its not using the alternator. Thanks!
Guys...FYI on the belt tensioner, make sure you get the Gates Manufactured one that is metal. I went to AutoZone and they tried to sell me a DayCo that had a plastic pulley. The Gates brand has a metal pulley the same as OEM.
@17Gianna...yes, glad to have yet another greasy, woman scientist...just put one on but my friend pitched a snot because i did it after he removed itand left me stranded, per se. LoL
Wow. This is a great video. My tensioner just totally flopped out this week and I need to replace it. Nearby auto shop was going to charge me $450 to replace it.
Great video...thanks for posting this! My belt slipped off this afternoon when the car got turned off with it in gear. Removing the splash panels makes it a lot easier. Especially when you have to people. With two, you can skip the part with the pipe and the wrench trick. The person in the wheel well can pull down on the tensioner while the top person slips the rest of the belt on. Thanks again!!!
Overall - excellent video. I watched it before the job and got the noted tools: 14mm combo wrench & 10mm socket. I didn't get the 3/8" breaker bar as I have 3/8 ratchet drives. Be advised the socket depth is another important variable. A deep 10mm socket won't fit. The shallow one brings the socket wrench too close so that the head interferes with the tensioner roller. THAT is reason for BREAKER BAR. I had to wedge the 14mm wrench to rotate the tensioner roller clear to reach the top bolt
@richpin06a Yes, and a 3/8 6 point socket. It seems that the motor mount bolt (I'm pretty sure it's the motor mount bolt at least) across from the top bolt keeps me from getting the socket in straight on.
@LotusLord I do not know what to tell you i have no problem getting the top bolt on the tensioner with the 3/8 breaker bar now the bolt on the idle pulley is a little more difficult.
What do you recommend buying for the Belt Tensioner pulley? I have this bad squeel whenever the car is cold and first turned on, it disappears after a short drive and revving up to about 4,000rpm. I think I'm in need of a new belt tensioner as well as cleaning all the pulley's as an oil leak (head gasket I need to replace) has soiled them causing some additional slippage I'm guessing...Thoughts?
@richpin06a I did that about a year ago and my squeel persists. It's especially prevalent on a cold or wet morning. Usually I turn the car on and it's fine, then as soon as I start to drive and the anti-lock breaks engage I get that really loud whine up until I get on the road and accelerate hard. Once that happens the sound goes away for awhile. Thanks for the reply back.
Used this video to replace my tensioner and belt, and what do you know....no more annoying rattle!!! Thank you so much for these videos richpin!!! You continue to be a valuable resource for fixing my saturn.
hi richpin: it is gina/chemistry student in northern CA. i successfully changed the s.b.tensioner yesterday, however, as always i ran into a little snag. for example, when you mention on your video to use a 3/8 breaker bar, and i buy a 1/2 (napa was out of 3/8), there is not enough room to remove the top bolt because the 1/2 b.bar is too big, so i had to remove the bolt holding the top motor mount bracket.
bottom-line, when you say 3/8, get only a 3/8. thanks for the video. gianna
Thank you for the video! my car makes a funny noise if I start up with the A/C on or just sometimes without, guess it's the belt tensioner because the belt looks nice..
I just had my serpentine belt changed ($60), now there is a quite squeal. I think the tensioner went bad from a loose belt. It holds charge and the power steering is still good. It's not a loud squeal. Good video.
Excellent video as always. Great camera, lighting, and top notch narration.
I have been watching your videos for quite some time now and I notice you have a small home made upholstery tool. It appears to be a standard screwdriver brazed to a small forked section of steel. I am interested in fabricating one of those little gems. Can you please tell me how you made it.
Thanks richpin, keep those excellent videos coming.
@richpin06a Thats a fantastic tooli cant remember the amount of plastic plugs i have broken using pliers and screwdrivers. Could you send me a picture too please..
Appreciate your videos Rich. About a month ago I replaced the belt, tensioner, and idler pulley with your "help". My Saturn is a lot quieter under the hood now.
@richpin06a I see an oil leak too! How many miles does yours have? The 99 SW2 my sister drives, 131k plus miles, leaks oil from the rear of the engine above the oil filter, I think a side seal is leaking too, uses alot of oil, maybe 1/2 to 1 quart every 1k miles.
Great job, this made changing the assembly a lot easier. Also, the video on displaying how to jack up the fragile Saturn body was very helpful.
ericbreedlove 2 days ago
You have no idea how this video helped me. It end up being the belt tensioner after all. I changed the belt and tensioner myself. Thanks a million!
opinionatorX 3 weeks ago
just wanted to say great video, i worked on automoblies for 40+ years, now legs and back don`t work like i want them to but i still mess with cars, i enjoy you viedo and wished that they had been around when i ran my garage.
jesuschrist1732 3 weeks ago
@jesuschrist1732 It sure makes things a little easier.
richpin06a 3 weeks ago
Thanks for your quick reply! I am changing the belt on my exact model in this video on my own today. Another question. Do I get the belt with or with AC specs? I bought the one with AC. Thanks for the post!
opinionatorX 3 weeks ago
@opinionatorX If yours is like the one in this video you want the one with AC
richpin06a 3 weeks ago
@opinionatorX Ok Great! I did get that one. I just came back in from trying to put belt on. Should I take wheel Off? I think I got it on without using the tensioner? There is slack. Am I doing something wrong? Also my battery is dead right now. I think because its not using the alternator. Thanks!
opinionatorX 3 weeks ago
How would you know if the tensioner is bad?
opinionatorX 3 weeks ago
@opinionatorX When the spring in the tensionor gets worn (weak)the tensioner will bounce up and down with the cycling of the motor more than normal..
richpin06a 3 weeks ago
Rich, would a universal 3/8 joint work for the same application you are using a wobble extension?
vuglialoro 2 months ago
@vuglialoro Yes,that is what i used before i got my wobble.
richpin06a 2 months ago
Guys...FYI on the belt tensioner, make sure you get the Gates Manufactured one that is metal. I went to AutoZone and they tried to sell me a DayCo that had a plastic pulley. The Gates brand has a metal pulley the same as OEM.
vuglialoro 2 months ago
@17Gianna...yes, glad to have yet another greasy, woman scientist...just put one on but my friend pitched a snot because i did it after he removed itand left me stranded, per se. LoL
ballershanelle 2 months ago
Wow. This is a great video. My tensioner just totally flopped out this week and I need to replace it. Nearby auto shop was going to charge me $450 to replace it.
lnsykalski 3 months ago
Great video...thanks for posting this! My belt slipped off this afternoon when the car got turned off with it in gear. Removing the splash panels makes it a lot easier. Especially when you have to people. With two, you can skip the part with the pipe and the wrench trick. The person in the wheel well can pull down on the tensioner while the top person slips the rest of the belt on. Thanks again!!!
Thrash2010ATL 6 months ago
Comment removed
yetanother142 6 months ago
Overall - excellent video. I watched it before the job and got the noted tools: 14mm combo wrench & 10mm socket. I didn't get the 3/8" breaker bar as I have 3/8 ratchet drives. Be advised the socket depth is another important variable. A deep 10mm socket won't fit. The shallow one brings the socket wrench too close so that the head interferes with the tensioner roller. THAT is reason for BREAKER BAR. I had to wedge the 14mm wrench to rotate the tensioner roller clear to reach the top bolt
yetanother142 6 months ago
I'm having a hell of a time getting to any kind of socket on the top bolt on my SL1. Any suggestions?
LotusLord 7 months ago
@LotusLord Do you have a 3/8 breaker bar
richpin06a 7 months ago
@richpin06a Yes, and a 3/8 6 point socket. It seems that the motor mount bolt (I'm pretty sure it's the motor mount bolt at least) across from the top bolt keeps me from getting the socket in straight on.
LotusLord 7 months ago
@LotusLord I do not know what to tell you i have no problem getting the top bolt on the tensioner with the 3/8 breaker bar now the bolt on the idle pulley is a little more difficult.
richpin06a 7 months ago
What do you recommend buying for the Belt Tensioner pulley? I have this bad squeel whenever the car is cold and first turned on, it disappears after a short drive and revving up to about 4,000rpm. I think I'm in need of a new belt tensioner as well as cleaning all the pulley's as an oil leak (head gasket I need to replace) has soiled them causing some additional slippage I'm guessing...Thoughts?
bobmortock 9 months ago
@bobmortock If you have oil on the belt i would try a new belt first.
richpin06a 9 months ago
@richpin06a I did that about a year ago and my squeel persists. It's especially prevalent on a cold or wet morning. Usually I turn the car on and it's fine, then as soon as I start to drive and the anti-lock breaks engage I get that really loud whine up until I get on the road and accelerate hard. Once that happens the sound goes away for awhile. Thanks for the reply back.
bobmortock 9 months ago
I just had to replace the belt in my Saturn, and this video was helpful. Thanks!
JohnEvansChaoseed 10 months ago
I fixed mine last night. Thanks for this awesome video.
ChaddLackey 10 months ago
Used this video to replace my tensioner and belt, and what do you know....no more annoying rattle!!! Thank you so much for these videos richpin!!! You continue to be a valuable resource for fixing my saturn.
fairjason 1 year ago
great job thx alot!
buddub105 1 year ago
hi richpin: it is gina/chemistry student in northern CA. i successfully changed the s.b.tensioner yesterday, however, as always i ran into a little snag. for example, when you mention on your video to use a 3/8 breaker bar, and i buy a 1/2 (napa was out of 3/8), there is not enough room to remove the top bolt because the 1/2 b.bar is too big, so i had to remove the bolt holding the top motor mount bracket.
bottom-line, when you say 3/8, get only a 3/8. thanks for the video. gianna
17gianna 1 year ago
Another great vido Rich, Thank you,
Can you tell me what are the symptoms of a bad serpentine belt tensioner?
Is there a way to test if the tensioner is good or bad>
GTVAlfaMan 1 year ago
where did you get that pushpin spudger?
ipodtouchfan221 1 year ago
@ipodtouchfan221 I made it and there is a pattern pending.....LOL
richpin06a 1 year ago
Thank you for the video! my car makes a funny noise if I start up with the A/C on or just sometimes without, guess it's the belt tensioner because the belt looks nice..
Tobbytheking 1 year ago
I just had my serpentine belt changed ($60), now there is a quite squeal. I think the tensioner went bad from a loose belt. It holds charge and the power steering is still good. It's not a loud squeal. Good video.
wwe107 1 year ago
@wwe107 Take some plastic tubing hold one end to your ear and move the other around the different pulleys until you find the one making the noise.
Proverbs1x26refurbed 1 year ago
@Proverbs1x26refurbed Yeah, or take the belt back off and spin each pulley and listen to see which is making the noise, thanks.
wwe107 1 year ago
you do us all a great service richpin, thank you.
AutoStudent4Life 1 year ago
THE BEST
ActionFigureWorld 1 year ago
Excellent video as always. Great camera, lighting, and top notch narration.
I have been watching your videos for quite some time now and I notice you have a small home made upholstery tool. It appears to be a standard screwdriver brazed to a small forked section of steel. I am interested in fabricating one of those little gems. Can you please tell me how you made it.
Thanks richpin, keep those excellent videos coming.
ManicMechanic007 1 year ago 4
@ManicMechanic007 It was made from a piece pipe check your inbox i will send you a link to a picture of it.
richpin06a 1 year ago
@richpin06a Thats a fantastic tooli cant remember the amount of plastic plugs i have broken using pliers and screwdrivers. Could you send me a picture too please..
Great videos...
Rhin0Neil 1 year ago
@Rhin0Neil Will do check your inbox for the link
richpin06a 1 year ago
excellent camera quaility.
DALE97DSM 1 year ago
Appreciate your videos Rich. About a month ago I replaced the belt, tensioner, and idler pulley with your "help". My Saturn is a lot quieter under the hood now.
Thanks,
Jerry
fotojerry 1 year ago
Comment removed
studpuppy69 1 year ago
@studpuppy69 I haven't replaced the nut behind the wheel yet
richpin06a 1 year ago
@richpin06a I see an oil leak too! How many miles does yours have? The 99 SW2 my sister drives, 131k plus miles, leaks oil from the rear of the engine above the oil filter, I think a side seal is leaking too, uses alot of oil, maybe 1/2 to 1 quart every 1k miles.
studpuppy69 1 year ago
@studpuppy69 166,000 bound to have a few small leaks
richpin06a 1 year ago