Serpentine belt removal

1998 CHEVROLET CAVALIER

4 CYL • 2WD • AUTOMATIC

SYLIS

MEMBER
10 POSTS
FOLLOW

Car listed above has a 2.2l engine. I'm looking to replace the serpentine belt because it is in bad condition, the problem is I can't seem to find the tensioner or where to lock on to it in order to relieve the tension off the belt. The diagram is no longer under the hood, and I've seen at least 20 different images online which are either completely wrong, or do not label the parts.

The car as AC, and I believe the tensioner is below the power steering pump, but I am unsure of where the bolt is that I would hook my socket and bar onto. If someone either had a diagram or if I am looking at the right part, how I relieve the tensioner.

Feb 16, 2011 at 10:23 PM

SYLIS

MEMBER
10 POSTS

Well, I found out myself. On my Cavalier, the tensioner is in fact below the power steering pump. An easy way of relieving the tension is to push down on the arm with the pulley gently, then slip the belt off. Be careful when doing so, if you put too much pressure on the arm you could damage your belt tensioner.

Feb 19, 2011 at 10:42 PM

COREY GERVAIS

MEMBER
1 POST

Does anyone know what size of belt I would need if I delete the power steering and the alternator from my 1998 Cavalier?

Jun 9, 2021 at 4:23 PM

KASEKENNY

CERTIFIED EXPERT
18,907 POSTS

Unfortunately we don't have a size for something like this. The way in which to figure this out is to take a string and run it though the pulleys but you bypass these pulleys and then mark the string and remove it then measure it. This would be the size belt that you need to order. However, you want to measure the movement of the tensioner and take out that amount of movement so that you can get tension on the belt. I tell people to leave them selves have the travel of the tensioner so if you have 2 inches of movement then you only remove 1 inch from the length on the string that you measured.

Below is the process to replace the belt so you can see the routing.

Please let us know if you have other questions. Thanks

Images (Click to enlarge)

Jun 12, 2021 at 6:32 PM