Thread: V8 Serpentine belt

Tensioner is the pulley below the alternator, it lives on a spring loaded arm. You don't undo anything, find the part that allows you to move the pulley against spring tension, usually a 15mm ring spanner on the pulley bolt. When you have taken up the tension with the spanner slip the belt off the nearest smooth pulley.

you may need an extension on the spanner--

also check all idler pulleys for wear and noise,, a quick rev before removal and another with the belt off(quick!) may be usefull too.

Originally Posted by Pedro_The_Swift

you may need an extension on the spanner--

Or muscles

oh,, so your nom de plume is accurate!
how did you ever fit in a Suby?

Originally Posted by BigJon

Or muscles

I had to stand on my new tensioner for my D1. My puny little pipecleaner style arms couldn't get it to budge.

One foot on the front bumper, one on the tensioner, and press down with all my 40 (ish) kilos!

I changed the alternator in my Range Rover yesterday (3.9 D1 serpentine engine). I used a standard length ring spanner on the belt tensioner.

Subaru was a tight fit. Our current Liberty has a factory sunroof and my head touches the roof.

I agree with pedro on this one. The pulley is in a tricky spot! I am not a weakling by any measure, but found using my breaker bar a more sensible solution (part of my work smarter not harder mantra).
As mentioned previously, don't undo any bolts... (it's no big deal if you've done this already though, just tighten everything back up).
Pop the ratchet/spanner/whatever onto the nut at the front of the pulley and tighten it. The whole arm will then move.