A/C Belt

[raress9596]

Not to sound like a dumb -ss. But I do feel stupid. How in the heck do I change the a/c belt on my 2010 Tahoe? 84,000 miles and I am doing some routine maintainance. Can't for the life of me figure what GM did. Thanks!

 

[sumo]

whats the problem? cant figure how to remove it or get to it? If your going to replace it, might as well the serp belt too as it needs to be reomved before you can remove the ac belt

 

[2007tahoe]

I find it weird that some reason my ac belt look awful (cracking everywhere) but the serp belt still looks great. 2007 with 75000 miles original belts.

 

[fire730]

I find it weird that some reason my ac belt look awful (cracking everywhere) but the serp belt still looks great. 2007 with 75000 miles original belts.

I've actually seen that a lot. I don't know if this has nothing to do with it but it's possible the belts are made of different material.

Here's a link to what Im referring to.
http://www.gatesprograms.com/beltwear/beltwear

 

[raress9596]

I changed the serpentine belt. Took about 30 seconds. After I took it off I went to change out the belt for the a/c. No tensioner! Just a belt from crank pulley to a/c! Serpentine belt wasn't cracked after 84,000 miles, but was dry. Just doing some routine maintainance. If I can't figure out how to change it I'm going to leave it till either it breaks and hopefully doesn't take out the serp. belt or I have at the dealer and let them do it. arghhhh!

P.S. I think there may be a special tool to change it. Saw something on the cardboard packaging that looks like some sort of tool for install?

---------- Post added at 08:01 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:36 AM ----------

Well everyone I did a little research. Check out this video below . Just watch it after the Ford Escape part of the video. What a pain in the ass. Can't they leave things alone?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbHumrLIdys

 

[sumo]

here this video will help

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_R8sful7ao

 

[raress9596]

here this video will help

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_R8sful7ao

Not on a 2010 Tahoe! There is no tensioner! Check out the video on my post above.

 

[fire730]

Cause the automatic tensioners fail so much.

 

[sumo]

Oh yea i see what you mean. Ive checked alldata and your supposed to cut old and then using a install tool, stretch new belt onto pulley. I dont know if that tool comes with the belt or not. Ive copied the how too off AD and hopefully the pics work. Pic 1 starting on the left

Air Conditioning Compressor Belt Replacement (V8)Removal Procedure View & Print Options
PIC 1
1. Remove the accessory drive belt.
2. Remove the skid plate. Refer to Engine Shield Replacement
3. Cut the belt (1) from air conditioning (A/C) and crankshaft pulleys.Installation Procedure View & Print Options Note: The OEM replacement stretchy belt is packaged with a disposable installation tool.
PIC2
1. Position the belt behind the rear face of the balancer (1) and off of the A/C pulley (2).
2. Install the belt installation tool (3) onto the balancer.
PIC 3
3. Slide the belt installation tool (1) upward, installing the belt (2) onto the belt installation tool.
4. Slide the belt installation tool downward, positioning the belt onto the A/C pulley, applying light tension to the belt.
PIC4
5. Position the lower portion of the belt (1) with the ribbed area facing forward.
PIC 5
6. Slowly rotate the crankshaft pulley (1) in a clockwise direction while using finger pressure to pull the belt (2) forward. Ensure that the ribbed area of the belt remains facing forward and the belt aligns properly to the A/C pulley.
PIC 6
]7. Inspect the drive belt (1) for proper installation and alignment.
PIC7
8. Rotate the balancer (1) and additional 360 degrees to ensure proper belt installation.
9. Install the skid plate. Refer to Engine Shield Replacement
10. Install the accessory drive belt.

 

[sumo]

last 2 pics

 

[sumo]

Not on a 2010 Tahoe! There is no tensioner! Check out the video on my post above.

lol now i see it after all the Copy from alldata oh well, Lesson learned

 

[RoliO]

80k mi on my tahoe. New belts arrived today. Gonna try to replace over the weekend.

 

[shundal]

is there a tensioner for the ac pulley on a 2007 tahoe? I was going to do this on my tahoe this weekend, but if theres no tensioner, I'm going to need to have a shop install it, as I don't have the tool.

 

[Ron.H]

Thank you that was very simple

 

[Tibo77]

Good heavens! What a pain. Guess that changes my plans this weekend. Crap! No tensioner on my 09 either.

 

[Tibo77]

Thank God for this site.

 

[08HoeCD]

Crazy that GM changed it to make it so mysterious/difficult after the '08 model year.
Fire that engineer.

 

[DRG]

Just installed new AC belt on may 2010 Denali. The installation tool/guide did not fit between the main pulley and engine; would not make it all the way around. I was able to install the belt without the tool though and it wasn't too bad and did not seem to damage the belt. Just put the belt in place, on the compressor pulley, off the main pulley and rotate the engine with a socket wrench.

 

[CrashTestDummy]

Crazy that GM changed it to make it so mysterious/difficult after the '08 model year.
Fire that engineer.

A few carefully-aimed kicks to the nards seem to be in order for that stupid design! I was hoping for a tensioner on the A/C belt, but noooo. I spent some considerable time digging through the FSM to try to find the instructions for doing this, but have so far come up empty handed.

To all the respondents with helpful steps/videos, thank you. I'll be attempting this this weekend, AFTER I go get that stupid belt installer tool. I did the accessory belt at the last oil change, but couldn't quite figure out how to get this change done, and it wasn't looking like a 'quick job while I'm there' sort of thing.

 

[wjburken]

Ran into this gem of a change a few years back on my ‘09 Suburban.

Read that not having the tensioner saves on rotating mass (small increase in fuel efficiency) and cost reduction by having fewer parts.