Write-Up: Replacing Supercharger Belt Tensioner

Update - write-up is here:

https://rivperformance.editboard.com/series-ii-engine-transmission-f4/write-up-replacing-supercharger-belt-tensioner-t2887-75.htm#105411

Is there a write up or any tips (I tried Google and nothing obvious popped up) for Tensioner R&R?

My 1996 Riv looks pretty easy but its makin' noise! I got the whole assembly, looks like water runs through the sucker? Do I need a gasket?

What all has to come off before I get to the tensioner assembly itself?

Thanks.

To get to the tensioners, you start with the belts & pulleys. Here's a write-up for those:

https://rivperformance.editboard.com/series-ii-engine-transmission-f4/write-up-replacing-belts-and-pulleys-part-i-t725.htm

Would be nice to see how the tensioners come off. Maybe you can snap a few pics?

If you are talking about the lower super charger tensioner I wish you luck. What a royal PITA!

SHIT! Hahaha.. Yeah, the big one.

Uh, this is easily worth the money!

This is the front tensioner?

Shouldn't be bad at all. 3-4 bolts and a ground it's off.

yea the front tensioner comes off easy, i've never taken the rear off, but it shouldnt be too hard once you get the belts out of the way.
about 1/2 way down the page on the write up AA posted, there is a engine pic with #'s for pulleys. which one are you looking at replacing?

The main one is part of the water way of the engine - has all kinds of passages through it. It appears that I need to take the motor mount off, thus I need to support the engine.

I can do all this stuff, but I have 3 burst discs and would rather not put my body through all that contorting. Just seems harder than I thought it would be.

You could try quoting it out. More than twice I've been offered to have my belts changed for $99. Some mechanics don't see the challenge until it's upon them. If you can hold them to their quote, it would be worth paying for, especially this time of year.

I need the whole tensioner, not just the belts!

It is making noise and I know better than to let it go much longer!

You're right. Mine just seized. Sudden death to tensioner and an unplanned diversion. Yuck. Was about 178,000 miles. Should have seen it coming, I guess.

Albertj

Actually, now that I look at it, it is the front tensioner (Supercharger). It is very confusing to look at: I looked at the link above... and it appears as though this is for the Alternator belt (rear).

Does anyone have any advise for the front (small) tensioner? It also appears that the pulley is broken down by the engine bolt (which makes me think I'm going to have to take everything out anyway).

Thanks,

Adam

Matt mentioned that you needed a 15mm socket to loosen the tension on the s/c belt.. but the bolts on mine are this crazy star shape.. am I just an idiot, or am I missing something





It IS number 3 correct? even the bolts on those look to be 15mm metric sizes.. look at mine in the picture.. any help is greatly appreciated as i'm trying to figure out if I need to order a coupler or not, since i'm placing an order with intense and might as well pick the coupler up if I do in fact need it..

amigod.. I thought I was viewing the engine/tranny thread.... my bad Aaron

yes # 3 is right. mine is a 15mm along with the one of the engine diag.

i guess 97+ rivs have a star screw instead?? does the new pulley come with a new bolt too?
if you're ordering the coupler might as well get some s/c oil from intense.

well the coupler itself is 30, but they sell the install kit for 40 which includes the oil, so i'm just going to do that.. I don't want to order this if I don't really need it.. but I hear that sort of rattling noise and when I put my hand on the snout I can feel the vibration.. what do u think

i think you might be looking on the end that bolts it on rather than the end you are supposed to pull on???

so use a torx bit. T- 45 IIRC

IIRC mine needs a T50 torx. But yes some cars have a hex-head bolt there. Mostly GTPs. All the buicks I've seen have Torx heads.

deekster_caddy wrote:

IIRC mine needs a T50 torx. But yes some cars have a hex-head bolt there. Mostly GTPs. All the buicks I've seen have Torx heads.

i used a allen wrench of some sort

i'll have to pick one up.. I haven't had the need to buy one yet lol

I used an allen wrench too...

perhaps it is a t-50... It's one of the larger ones. I'd go for the torx bit before a hexhead, which can strip out the hole.

so t-50? not 45?

I'm pretty sure it's T50. They used to have a cheap set of 4 at autozone that was T40, T45, T50 and T60 that comes in pretty handy. Just get a couple. You'll find some other sizes of Torx on your Riv from time to time.

Yeah, i'm slowly putting together another tool set, because I have a stand up toolbox at work, filled with just about every tool you could need.. but it gets annoying having to bring home this size wrench, or that size socket just to work on the riv.