I figured I'd take a little time today to try to contribute to the Forum, this is for people like me that may not be so mechanically inclined but need/want to work on their own vehicle for various reasons.
In order to change the serpentine belt and belt tensioner on your van it's a pretty easy process. I changed mine as part of troubleshooting a larger problem, and I needed it for general maintenance. So here we go.
1. Remove the latch for your hood. (2 bolts, move it out of your way to your right)
2. Remove the air cleaner, (loosen hose clamp and slide off)
3. Separate the top fan shroud from the bottom fan shroud the fan. (bolts on each side at the bottom of top shroud) Don't try to drag it across the radiator. (My top fan shroud has 2 holes that "seat" into the left and right side of the top of the radiator) My van also has a "push pin" directly in the center/top of the van shroud going into van body (remove it) With a little of finagglin' it will slide out.
4. Now, remove the bottom shroud. circle it around the fan toward the drivers side and it will slide out, don't just try to lift it straight out between the fan and the radiator. Again, with a little finagglin' it will come out easily.
5. This is the belt tensioner.
6. On my power steering fluid canister it shows the belt diagram. If yours is missing, take a picture of your belt routing or get a diagram. You will not be able to remember how it routes.
7. Ok, now grab the right side of the belt tensioner and lift up. The belt tensioner is spring loaded. it will lift up but it's hard (the spring). This loosens the belt. Now slide the old belt off.
8. If you're going to change the belt tensioner, there is a bolt going through the left side of the belt tensioner. Loosen it. IMPORTANT. There is a nut on the other side of that bolt..Hold onto it or it will drop onto engine and be difficult to retrieve. Remove the bolt.
9. Install new belt tensioner. The new belt tensioner has holes that line up into the bracket. When installed correctly the right side of the tensioner will face downward. Tighten the bolt all the way.
10. Re-route the new belt, making sure that everything is lined up properly, grooves of the belt are in the grooves of the pulleys and so forth.
11. Now, you have the belt routed properly, but there is no tension. Grab the tensioner and lift. put the belt under the right pulley on the tensioner.
12. Put fan shroud(s), air cleaner, hood latch back in place.
Yet another 12 step program. Again, thought this was going to be a PITA, was actually very easy. No excuse for squeeky belts anymore. Hope this helps somebody.
In order to change the serpentine belt and belt tensioner on your van it's a pretty easy process. I changed mine as part of troubleshooting a larger problem, and I needed it for general maintenance. So here we go.
1. Remove the latch for your hood. (2 bolts, move it out of your way to your right)
2. Remove the air cleaner, (loosen hose clamp and slide off)
3. Separate the top fan shroud from the bottom fan shroud the fan. (bolts on each side at the bottom of top shroud) Don't try to drag it across the radiator. (My top fan shroud has 2 holes that "seat" into the left and right side of the top of the radiator) My van also has a "push pin" directly in the center/top of the van shroud going into van body (remove it) With a little of finagglin' it will slide out.
4. Now, remove the bottom shroud. circle it around the fan toward the drivers side and it will slide out, don't just try to lift it straight out between the fan and the radiator. Again, with a little finagglin' it will come out easily.
5. This is the belt tensioner.
6. On my power steering fluid canister it shows the belt diagram. If yours is missing, take a picture of your belt routing or get a diagram. You will not be able to remember how it routes.
7. Ok, now grab the right side of the belt tensioner and lift up. The belt tensioner is spring loaded. it will lift up but it's hard (the spring). This loosens the belt. Now slide the old belt off.
8. If you're going to change the belt tensioner, there is a bolt going through the left side of the belt tensioner. Loosen it. IMPORTANT. There is a nut on the other side of that bolt..Hold onto it or it will drop onto engine and be difficult to retrieve. Remove the bolt.
9. Install new belt tensioner. The new belt tensioner has holes that line up into the bracket. When installed correctly the right side of the tensioner will face downward. Tighten the bolt all the way.
10. Re-route the new belt, making sure that everything is lined up properly, grooves of the belt are in the grooves of the pulleys and so forth.
11. Now, you have the belt routed properly, but there is no tension. Grab the tensioner and lift. put the belt under the right pulley on the tensioner.
12. Put fan shroud(s), air cleaner, hood latch back in place.
Yet another 12 step program. Again, thought this was going to be a PITA, was actually very easy. No excuse for squeeky belts anymore. Hope this helps somebody.