Electrical problem
1993 Chevy Silverado 6 cyl Two Wheel Drive Automatic 200000 miles
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How do I release the tension on the serpentine belt so I can replace the alternator....

on 93 vintage I think there is a square hole in the arm, insert a 1/2 inch drive rachett wrench and relieve tension, if no hole, use a wrench on the nut at the pulley...

Thanks for the quick reply.... I managed to find an answer elswhere on the web, BUT now I have a new problem.... I think in my lack of expertise... I loosend the tensioner and now the belt is too loose......How do I tighten this to the correct setting ?

I knew I was turning the wrong bolt, but did it anyway.....Got the alternator in, and now a new problem that I created............ PLEASE HELP....

Before we can go much further, I need the engine size?

it is the V6
i was just out to start it up again..... it is rattling
looks like the tensioner pulley is rattling back and forth

till nrrd the engine size?

4.3 liter V6 262...hope thats what you are after......

That's what I needed. These are the routing diagrams for both with air pump and without. Tighten that single bolt in the middle of the tensioner.

it seems that the bolt on the pulley that the belt rides on will not tighten??? I will go try again.
When I first started the project, I did not know how to release tension, so I loosened the bolt on the part that has the spring in it , i realized that was wrong and then tightens it. Then I found out that I needed to put a wrench on the "pulley" bolt and turn counter clockwise

So you are saying to have the belt in the correct position and then tighten the bolt that is in the "pulley touching the belt ?

thanks, sorry for the confusion(on my part)

make sure the tensioner is installed right, there is a peg on the tensioner and a hole in the block, this keeps the tensioner from moving, then use the wrenches or square drive wrench to move the tensioner and put the belt on...