96 conti sepentine belt -Help

[bradmccoy_FCE]

Does the tensioner need to be removed in order to get the belt off?
I have the belt off all the other pulleys, but I can't get it off the tensioner.
Thanks for your help!!!

[guitarsjm]

No, it, the tensioner, doesnt need to be removed; that would really be a pain in the ass... and near impossible given the transverse mount of the engine and LIMITED room. what i did, got tired of TRYING to get the belt off conventionally, after it was off all the pully's as well, hell... i cut it then pulled it out!! getting the new belt on will be a bit tricky and take a bit of patience and ingenuity as to the manner in which you put the belt over which pully(s) first. after a few trial and errors, and from past experience, the hardest part i found was getting, if you look at and follow the belt path diagram, is that weird loop around the tensioner that is to the right of AND between the water pump and crankshaft pullys... a real BITCH to figure out. anyway. what i did was wedge something like a big screwdriver into the tensioner to keep it in the 'loose' position- this will help later on if you only have your own hands to do it, place the belt over the lowe pullys- lay on your back if necessay, facing the engine from the right side.. the belt will go over(actually under) the power steering, a/c comp, main crankshaft pullys... phew.... keeping it taught was a pain whilst moving up top to the other pullys... you may have to poke and prod a bit to keep the belt over the lower pullys mentioned whlie you guide it over and between (however pictured) the water pump and.... here is the tricky part.... remember to keep the tensioner all the way towards the 'loose'(the way you move it to take off the tension) side, make that little important loop with the belt that will go around the tensioner, its a bitch, but flattening, twisting, however you have to do it in order to get that loop made and pushed behind/around the tensioner pully... patience, it will get there just make sure you are following the routing diagram... if and when this is done, do NOT release the tensioner yet! you should have enough slak in the belt to get it around the alternator.. just enought, not too much, if there is too much, CHECK the routing again!! the key i found was to make sure of the routing between/around the water pump and crankshaft pullys... if memory serves, this was the key area to watch as the loop around the tensioner is here... between them and to the right. if all is well, and you can visuall see that the belts path is correct... slowly release the tensioner and viola... like new. sorry if i was too wordy... if you have no patience or havent done this before especially on a transverse mounted engine with very limited room to work, you may be in for some frustration!! it helps to have a good work light too!!

hope this helped!!

p.s. i removed a hose and the power steering reservoir in order to get a BIT more work space which definately helped... if you do remove ANY of the cooling system/radiator/heater hoses as i did, thus loosing coolant, you will HAVE to fill the system CORRECTLY as described in the owners manual or else you will be in for overheating nightmares(learned from experience as well).

p.s.s. after doing this, and hopefully if you do so with little hell, you may well understand why mechanics charge a bit more to it on this type of engine mounting
jm

[TheSweetRossLg]

when i had to do the belt about a year ago the tensioner just came unravled and i had to replace it be carfull man

[ContiDave]

guitarjm's post has some good techniques. I was able to get the belt on by starting at the tension pully--working down and then back up through the other side. The only thing I removed was the tire and pulled back the plastic inner fender. I also walked away in frustration a couple of times. You will need someone to help with the tension when you finally get to the alternator.

[bradmccoy_FCE]

Thanks for all the help!!!
I managed to "snake" it off the tensioner by taking all the tension off the tensioner(I had been trying to push the tensioner towards the water pump so I could slip the belt past the bolt head on the block). I finished my install during commercial breaks for "24".
Thanks again!!!

[guitarsjm]

Thanks for all the help!!!
I managed to "snake" it off the tensioner by taking all the tension off the tensioner(I had been trying to push the tensioner towards the water pump so I could slip the belt past the bolt head on the block). I finished my install during commercial breaks for "24".
Thanks again!!!


glad to help

[thunderace31]

anyone have the Diagram for a 2000 continetal My car dosnt have one and I am trying like hell to get the new belt on with luck :(
Need help asap