Chevy serpentine belt trick
I have had the alternator in and out of our 07 Chevy Roadtrek way more times than would seem reasonable, and did it again today to put the GM one back in. The lower voltage regulator still hasn't shown up from DC Power, and we really don't want to be dealing with 14.6 volts out of the alternator all the time.
Every time I have done this job, I have cursed the serpentine belt when I went to put it back on. Gravity drops it just enough to come out of the pulley grooves on the bottom of the engine, and when you pick it back up at the alternator, it doesn't re-engage the pulleys, so it isn't long enough to get on the alternator, especially since you are wrenching the tensioner on other side of the engine at the same time. Go under the van, re-engage the belt on the pulleys and it falls down again before you can get back to the top.
I finally got fed up and took a 24" bungee cord and hooked it through the belt at the alternator. I then hooked the the other end in one of the cutouts in the hood bracing, which put a bit of pull on the belt, but not really tight. Went underneath and the belt was snug but movable, so I put it back on the pulleys, where is stayed well because of the tension of the bungee. Back to the top, grab the belt and unhook the bungee while holding the belt up and then grab the wrench on the tensioner. Went right on first try, and was in all the grooves on the pulleys. Happy Camper!
Two people can put the belt on easily, but it is really difficult if you are by yourself, like I usually am.
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