How do you change the serpentine belt?

Tiny
VICKI46
  • MEMBER
  • 1994 PONTIAC GRAND AM
We are having an extremely hard time trying to change the serpentine belt on a 1994 Grand Am. My brother in law has jacked up the motor, he still can't get to the belt. There seems to be a couple brackets in the way, are these to be removed? Is this as difficult as we are finding? It is a front wheel drive, he has built engines, replaced engines and never ran into this kind of a problem. Please anyone with some suggestions on changing the serpentine belt on a 1994 Grand Am would be appreciated. Thank You
Sunday, February 17th, 2008 AT 9:35 AM

33 Replies

Tiny
MERLIN2021
  • MECHANIC
  • 17,250 POSTS
There are 3 18mm bolts on the engine mount bracket. the lowest bolt needs to be coated in thread locker or pipe sealant as that bolt enters a water jacket. the belt can be serviced by jacking the engine approximately 4" after removing the transverse engine mount.

This guide will help

https://www.2carpros.com/diagrams/pontiac/grand-am/1994

Please let us know if you need anything else to get the problem fixed.
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Sunday, February 17th, 2008 AT 9:46 AM
Tiny
REG940
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
  • 1994 PONTIAC GRAND AM
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 120,000 MILES
Diagram for belt routing, alternator
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Tuesday, July 28th, 2020 AT 1:11 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MERLIN2021
  • MECHANIC
  • 17,250 POSTS
Top is 2.0 Bottom is 2.2 and 2.5


https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/62217_Belt20_1.jpg



https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/62217_Belt22_1.jpg

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Tuesday, July 28th, 2020 AT 1:11 PM (Merged)
Tiny
REG940
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
  • 1994 PONTIAC GRAND AM
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 120,000 MILES
I got the routing diagram for the 94 grand am, but this model is the 2.3L. The belt only drives the alt. Crank, a c. Thanks
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Tuesday, July 28th, 2020 AT 1:12 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MERLIN2021
  • MECHANIC
  • 17,250 POSTS
Why did't ya say so? Voila!


https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/62217_Belt23_1.jpg

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Tuesday, July 28th, 2020 AT 1:12 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ICED84
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • PONTIAC GRAND AM
What would make my 93 4 cyl. Quad grand am shred the serpentine belt immediatly when I put one on?
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Tuesday, July 28th, 2020 AT 1:12 PM (Merged)
Tiny
NICKYD01
  • MEMBER
  • 9 POSTS
Usually there would be a pulley not turning. Check your alternator because that is usually the first thing to lock up. If not the alternator, check the belt tensioner. One of the pulleys has to be frozen up.
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Tuesday, July 28th, 2020 AT 1:12 PM (Merged)
Tiny
GRANDPADAVID
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 1993 PONTIAC GRAND AM
Engine Mechanical problem
1993 Pontiac Grand Am 4 cyl Automatic

I am trying to replace the power steering drive belt. I have located the adjustment bolt, but can't find the pivot bolt.

Can you help?
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Tuesday, July 28th, 2020 AT 1:12 PM (Merged)
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
Go to the belt routing diagram on the site here and pick out which is your engine routing. It appears to be all tensioners so the most you will need is either a 3/8 or 1/2 inch drive to move the tensioner or a there will be a bolt plainly visible to move it.
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Tuesday, July 28th, 2020 AT 1:12 PM (Merged)
Tiny
GRANDPADAVID
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
The power steering pump has it's own belt and is located at the opposite end of the engine from the serpentine belt. It's tensioner is a bolt which tightens the pump against the pully before cinching down the mount.
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Tuesday, July 28th, 2020 AT 1:12 PM (Merged)
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
I've looked through several belt routing diagrams adn can't find anything like you state. I've gon through 19992-95. If it has a tensioner it might just grab the tensioner with a wwrench and see if it will move one way or another so you can get the belt off/on. Otherwise you may not have the correct info and we are looking at the wrong thing. Even the manual that I have access too doesn't show anything at all on belts.
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Tuesday, July 28th, 2020 AT 1:12 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RIKKISHAE
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 1993 PONTIAC GRAND AM
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 192 MILES
When I start my car the fan belt squeals for a few seconds then is replaced by something that sounds like a Dremel being used to grind or cut hard stone or something metal. It is coming from somewhere near the motor mount that connects to the alternater. It continues as long as the car is in any of the forward drive gears (stops in neutral and reverse) but sometimes, when I go over a speed bump, a rough driveway or a stretch of road with a lot of jarring potholes, it will stop briefly only to return even louder. (It's really embarrassing:) ). Any ideas
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Tuesday, July 28th, 2020 AT 1:12 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Inspect the drive belts for looseness and also could be a driven components such as the alternator, compressor, power steering pump or water pump that's making that dremel noise
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Tuesday, July 28th, 2020 AT 1:12 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JOE SWARTOUT
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1992 PONTIAC GRAND AM
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 160,000 MILES
How hard is it to chage a belt and do you have a diagram showing pattern of belt
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Tuesday, July 28th, 2020 AT 1:12 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MMPRINCE4000
  • MECHANIC
  • 8,548 POSTS
2.2 engine:


https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/108325_belt_22_1.jpg

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Tuesday, July 28th, 2020 AT 1:12 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CHUCKLESOYEA
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
  • 1992 PONTIAC GRAND AM
  • 6 CYL
I am trying to replace the serpentine belt on my 92 pontiac grand am and I am having trouble figuring out how to release the tension on the belt I've been looking around cant seem to find anything specific I have an Idler but no tensioner is the idler the tensioner or is there something I'm missing all together
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Tuesday, July 28th, 2020 AT 1:12 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JDL
  • MECHANIC
  • 16,098 POSTS
The belt routing is for a 3.1L ENGINE. Do you see the square cut-out in the tensioner, you use a rachet drive or breakover, the same size as the cut-out, pull ccw.
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Tuesday, July 28th, 2020 AT 1:12 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CHUCKLESOYEA
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
That does not look like my belt or tensioner the diagram on the car says only idler no tensioner the power steering is on the top left (from same vantage point as this picture) then slightly below and to the right is the idler with an arrow pointing up and right in between the P/S and Alternator the idler is perfectly round with one nut in the middle ill post a picture of my diagram it may be a bit small but you should get a better idea of whats going on
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Tuesday, July 28th, 2020 AT 1:12 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JDL
  • MECHANIC
  • 16,098 POSTS
OK, what's the liter size of engine? The picture I gave is what our database showed. The databases are not always correct. I'll keep looking.

If no tensioner, then some of the accessories that run off the belt, have an adjustment slot, you loosen the nut or bolt and move the accessory to get slack in the belt.
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Tuesday, July 28th, 2020 AT 1:12 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JDL
  • MECHANIC
  • 16,098 POSTS
I found this for the 3.3L engine.
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Tuesday, July 28th, 2020 AT 1:12 PM (Merged)

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