Serpentine belt tensioner replacement

be more easier remove engine mount.but you need to raise support engine before remove engine mount.

1. • 1 Open the hood, and locate the auto-tensioning bolt in the center of the pulley system. This bolt will be in the center of a pulley that does not appear to be connected to any component.
     
   • 2 Turn the auto-tensioning bolt clockwise with a socket wrench to release tension on the belt.
     
   • 3 Slide the belt off the pulley system.
     
   • 4 Orient the new belt on the pulley system according to the belt path printed on the underside of the hood and next to the hood latch mechanism on your Cavalier. Leave slack in the belt around the tensioner pulley.
     
   • 5 Slide the belt over the tensioner pulley while you have the auto-tensioner pulley bolt turned clockwise as far as it will go. Make sure that the belt is sitting centered in all the various pulley grooves on the pulley system.
     
   • 6 Release the tension pulley bolt, and apply tension to the belt. The auto-tensioner will automatically apply the correct amount of tension on the belt.
     

the nut that holds the tensioner on is under the alternator and would be much easier to remove with the alternator out of the way.

Hi. Here's the proceudere on how to replace the water pump of your 97 Chevy Cavalier.


•1
Drain the cooling system. Place a large oil drain container under the drain fitting located on the bottom of the radiator. Turn the drain fitting counterclockwise until fluid is draining from the radiator. Use a pair of pliers to turn the drain fitting if you cannot turn it by hand. Turn the fitting clockwise to tighten it after all of the fluid has drained from the radiator.
•2
Remove the cooling fan. Disconnect the electrical connection from the fan motor. Remove the bolts holding the fan assembly to the radiator support with a ratchet wrench. Pull the fan assembly up from the engine compartment and remove it.
•3
Remove the serpentine belt. Place a wrench over the belt tensioner and rotate the tensioner to release the tension on the belt. Pull the belt off the pulleys and remove it from the vehicle.
•4
Remove the water pump pulley. Place a screwdriver behind the pulley to lock it in place while removing the pulley mounting bolts with a ratchet wrench.
•5
Disconnect the coolant hoses running to the water pump.
•6
Remove the water pump mounting bolts with a ratchet wrench or wrench and remove the water pump from the vehicle.
•7
Clean the mating surfaces of the engine block and new water pump with a towel saturated with lacquer thinner.
•8
Apply a thin layer of RTV sealer to both sides of the new water pump gasket and place the gasket on the new water pump.
•9
Place the water pump against the engine block and finger tighten the water pump mounting bolts to hold the pump in place. Tighten the bolts with a torque wrench to 18 foot-pounds.
•10
Place the pulley on the water pump and install the water pump pulley mounting bolts with a ratchet wrench.
•11
Attach any hoses previously disconnected from the water pump.
•12
Install the serpentine belt. Route the belt over the pulleys according to the routing diagram in the engine compartment. Place a wrench over the belt tensioner and rotate the tensioner to tighten the tension on the belt.
•13
Install the cooling fan. Gently lower the cooling fan in position and install the mounting bolts attaching the fan assembly to the radiator support with a ratchet wrench. Attach the electrical connection to the fan motor.
•14
Refill the cooling system to the appropriate level, start the vehicle and check for leaks around the water pump.

All the best!

ADJUSTMENT 1.8L Engines ALTERNATOR AND WATER PUMP BELT

1. Loosen the alternator adjusting bolt.
2. Raise and safely support the vehicle.
3. Loosen the alternator mounting bolt. NOTE: Do not pry against the stator frame. Position the prybar against a stronger point, such as the area around a case bolt. Fig. 1: A belt tension gauge should be placed on the longest span of the belt to check tension — 1.8L engine
   
   
4. Position a suitable belt tension gauge on the longest accessible span of belt and tighten the belt.
5. Adjust the tension to 86–103 lbs. (383–461 N) for a new belt or 68–86 lbs. (304–383 kg) for a used belt.
6. If a belt tension gauge is not available, adjust the tension to 0.31–0.35 in. (8–9mm) deflection for a new belt or 0.35–0.39 in. (9–10mm) deflection for a used belt.
7. Tighten the alternator adjusting bolt to 14–19 ft. lbs. (19–25 Nm).
8. Tighten the alternator mounting bolt to 27–38 ft. lbs. (37–52 Nm).
9. Lower the vehicle. Fig. 2: Alternator and water pump pulley belt routing — 1.8L engine
   

POWER STEERING PUMP BELT

1. Raise and safely support the vehicle.
2. Loosen the power steering pump mounting bolt and nuts.
3. Adjust the power steering pump and, if equipped, the air conditioning compressor belt tension by turning the pump adjusting bolt. Fig. 3: Power steering pump belt routing and locations of the mounting bolts, nuts and adjusting nut — models without A/C
   
   
4. Tighten the power steering pump mounting nut near the pump adjusting bolt.
5. Position a suitable belt tension gauge on the longest accessible span of belt and tighten the belt.
6. Adjust the tension to 110–132 lbs. (491–589 N) for a new belt or 95–110 lbs. (422–491 N) for a used belt.
7. Check for proper belt deflection. For a new belt (one with less than 10 minutes of run time), the deflection should be 0.31–0.35 in. (8–9mm). For a used belt (one with more than 10 minutes of run time), the deflection should be 0.35–0.39 in. (9–10mm).
8. Tighten the power steering pump mounting nut, located near the adjusting bolt, to 27–38 ft. lbs. (37–52 Nm).
9. Tighten the pump mounting bolt behind the pulley to 27–40 ft. lbs. (36–54 Nm), and the remaining pump mounting nut to 23–34 ft. lbs. (31–46 Nm).
10. Lower the vehicle. Fig. 4: Power steering pump belt routing and locations of the mounting bolts, nuts and adjusting nut — models with A/C
    

1.9L Engines The accessory drive belt for 1.9L engines has no provision for manual belt adjustment, since these engines use an automatic belt tensioner. Drive belt slack is taken up by the automatic tensioner. NOTE: Movement of the automatic tensioner assembly during engine operation is not a sign of a malfunctioning tensioner. This movement is the tensioner self-adjusting and is required to maintain constant belt tension. Fig. 5: Drive belt routing — 1.9L engines
2.0L Engines The accessory drive belt for 2.0L engines has no provision for manual belt adjustment, since these engines use an automatic belt tensioner. Drive belt slack is taken up by the automatic tensioner. NOTE: Movement of the automatic tensioner assembly during engine operation is not a sign of a malfunctioning tensioner. This movement is the tensioner self-adjusting and is required to maintain constant belt tension. The belt tensioner has a belt length indicator. If the indicator marks are not between the MIN and MAX marks, the belt must be replaced. Fig. 6: Drive belt routing — 2.0L SOHC engine with A/C
Fig. 7: Drive belt routing — 2.0L SOHC engine without A/C
Fig. 8: Drive belt routing — 2.0L DOHC engine

loosen the mounting bolts on the alternator, use pry bar to provide tension, and re-tighten.

To replace the water pump on a Cavalier follow these steps:

* Disconnect negative battery cable

* Drain the cooling system into a proper container.

* Remove the serpentine belt

* Remove the alternator and bracket

* Unscrew the water pump pulley mounting bolts and remove the pulley.

* Unfasten the mounting bolts and remove the water pump.

* Use a putty knife and thoroughly clean old gasket material off of gasket mounting surface.

* Place a small bead of RTV sealant on new water pump.

* Put on gasket and make sure bolt holes are lined up properly.

* Install the water pump and tighten the retaining bolts to 18 ft lbs.

* Install the water pump pulley and then go back to retaining bolts and tighten to 22 ft lbs.

* Reinstall alternator and bracket.

* Put on serpentine belt.

* Fill cooling system to proper level with coolant.

* Connect battery cable, start the engine, and check for leaks.

Sure hope this helped you and good luck with the repair.

1. Disconnect negative battery cable and remove coolant reservoir.
2. Remove serpentine belt. Refer to Drive Belts, Mounts, Brackets and Accessories / Drive Belt. See: Drive Belt\Service and Repair
3. Remove two generator bolts.
4. Remove power steering pump and position aside.
5. Remove tensioner bolts and tensioner.
6. Reverse procedure to install, Torquing tensioner bolts to 37 ft. lbs.

remove center bolt tensioner, unloads as you loosen then will detach from mounting plate.replacements are available at local parts store.

The supercharged 3800 engine uses two accessory drive belts. The outer belt drives the supercharger. The inner belt drives the generator, power steering pump, coolant pump and air conditioning compressor. All driven accessories are rigidly mounted to the engine. Drive belt tension is maintained by the spring loaded belt tensioner. Each belt has its own tensioner.
Remove: Place a jack with a block of wood on it under oil pan to support engine. Caution : Be sure the wood block extends past the width of the oil pan to avoid damage. 
Torque axis engine mount bolt where it connects the mount to the engine mounting bracket. 
Electrical connector from crank sensor. 
Engine mounting bracket lower stud and lower engine to allow stud to clear frame rail. 
Raise engine and reinstall bolt into torque axis mount. Lower engine to allow spacer to be removed. 
Belt(s)

Istalling: Belt. 
Spacer. Remove bolt from torque axis bracket and lower engine. 
Electrical connector to crank sensor. 
Mounting bracket stud. 
Raise engine and install torque axis mount bolt. 
Tighten bolt to 87 Nm (52 lb. ft.) 

Good luck and hope this helps.