Okay... I think we figured out WHY we can%26#039;t get the belt back on our %26#039;98 Chevy Malibu 3.1L V6. But we wanted to get views on it before we took it to the shop. When you install the new alternator are you supposed to get slack on the belt BEFORE removing the alternator? We just took the belt off and replaced the alternator. Now we%26#039;re trying to get the belt back on (not replacing it at the moment). But we can%26#039;t get enough slack. Were we supposed to adjust the Automatic Belt Tensioner to get the slack before removing the belt and alternator? My second question is now that we don%26#039;t have enough slack, is there anyway of fixing it. We know we messed up (atleast we think we did) and wanted to see if there was a way of fixing it and getting the belt on BEFORE we end up taking it to the shop to pay dearly for our mistake. So my two questions are:
1. Were we supposed to get slack in the beginning of changing the alternator?
2. Is there anyway of getting slack now that the new alternator is in place and just need to put the belt back on all the pulleys etc?
And I hope we don%26#039;t get smart remarks... We know we probably screwed up just want to know if we can fix it?|||just get the proper tool to pull on the belt tensioner and just follow the picture on the top of the front grill if you dont have one just go to any auto parts store and get one. gd lk|||The fact you were able to remove the belt in the first place without a serpentine belt tensioner removal tool tell me the tensioner spring is #1. Too weak, #2. They didn%26#039;t give you the corrrect replacement belt (too long) #3. The routing of the belt isn%26#039;t quite correct.
