Replacing the AC belt

jnorion · Post by **jnorion** » Tue May 08, 2007 1:31 am

How the #$%!* are you supposed to loosen the tensioner bolt?

There's MAYBE an inch of clearance down there, not nearly enough for a socket, and the bolt is sunk back in too far to get an open ended wrench in. Is there some special tool I don't know about, or do I have to lift the entire radiator out of the way to get to it?

MPtyza · Post by **MPtyza** » Tue May 08, 2007 1:55 am

You're looking at the wrong bolt there. What you want is the upper one, just underneath the belt cover. The one you have circled actually holds that pulley on the tensioner

jnorion · Post by **jnorion** » Tue May 08, 2007 1:57 am

I know how it works... but the one I have circled is tightened down so the other one doesn't slip. To adjust the actual tensioner bolt, you have to loosen this one to allow it to slide up and down. If you try to turn the top bolt without loosening the bottom one, you'll break the bolt and/or strip it.

Post by **Legacy777** » Tue May 08, 2007 4:57 pm

Use a wrench.....it's not too bad, and can be done without removing the fans. However if you need more room, just remove the fan....it's not that hard.

jnorion · Post by **jnorion** » Tue May 08, 2007 6:04 pm

Hmm, I was having a lot of trouble getting a wrench in there. I guess I'll try again.

I know I can remove the fan, I was just hoping there was a better quicker way. Thank you!

Threshld1 · Post by **Threshld1** » Tue May 08, 2007 6:12 pm

I had no problem getting at it with a 3/8th ratchet and shorty 12mm on my buddies 98 OBS and those fans are a lot closer to the block then our leggys

jnorion · Post by **jnorion** » Tue May 08, 2007 6:14 pm

I've tried... the ratchet itself barely fits. 1/4" of clearance or so.

I'll go back out this afternoon and try with a wrench again. It's getting hot, I want to fix my AC.

Threshld1 · Post by **Threshld1** » Tue May 08, 2007 6:26 pm

hah ive never owned a car with working AC just tough it out =)
if anything get a box wrench with an angled end and you should be able to get it on the bolt vertically in the channel, it shouldnt be too difficult to get off if you can get a wrench on it, good luck

jnorion · Post by **jnorion** » Tue May 08, 2007 6:32 pm

I toughed it out last summer with leather seats wearing a shirt and tie all summer. I know it's not that big a deal, but the car's equipped with the system and there's a chance all I have to do is replace the belt for it to work. If it takes more than that, we'll see if it's really worth the effort.

Post by **Legacy777** » Wed May 09, 2007 1:44 pm

Yeah...use an open end wrench, not a ratchet

internetautomart · Post by **internetautomart** » Wed May 09, 2007 3:01 pm

craftsman sells a socket set that you put a box end wrench on rather than a conventional ratchet.

Saskatoon Subaru · Post by **Saskatoon Subaru** » Thu May 17, 2007 7:02 am

i just did this today use a 18mm wrench, works no problem, i think it was 18mm anyway

jnorion · Post by **jnorion** » Thu May 17, 2007 3:50 pm

I tried it with an open ended wrench and couldn't get it... even after soaking with WD-40 it was on too tight and I just stripped the head slightly. But I had to mess with the radiator anyway so I just took the fan off and replaced the belt using a socket. Thanks for all the advice though!

n2x4 · Post by **n2x4** » Thu May 17, 2007 4:17 pm

When I removed my rad fans, I left the bottom bolts loosened up a little.

That way if I ever need the fans out again I just have to unclip the connectors, unscrew the 4 top bolts for both fans and then the fans will slide right out. For reinstall just make sure that the fans slide back down onto the lower bolts.

jnorion · Post by **jnorion** » Thu May 17, 2007 9:27 pm

Yeah, I did the same.

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Replacing the AC belt

Replacing the AC belt