My tension pulley screw hole is stripped in Oldsmobile Cutlass 95

In the middle of the idler pulley/tensioner, there is a bolt head (I think it is a 13 or 15mm). Use a wrench or socket to turn it away from the belt, this will release the tension on the belt and allow you to remove the belt. Be careful, it is spring loaded....

There should be a diagram of the belt routing on the engine near the belt, the radiator support, or the hood. If not, make sure you draw a diagram of the belt and pulleys before you remove it.
There is a spring loaded tensioner that keeps the belt tight. You move the tensioner away from the belt to release the tension while removing the belt. Install is the reverse procedure.

2.8L and 3.1L Air Pump Belt

1. Disconnect the negative battery cable.
2. Loosen the air pump.
3. Remove the worn belt.

To install:

1. Adjust the belt to specifications and tighten the pump mounting bolts.
2. Connect the negative battery cable.

2.3L Power Steering Belt

1. Disconnect the negative battery cable.
2. Loosen the adjustment bolts.
3. Remove the power steering belt from the pulley.

To install:

1. Route the belt around the pulley.
2. Adjust the belt to specifications, then tighten the adjustment bolts.
3. Connect the negative battery cable.

See Figures 6 through 15

Fig. Fig. 6: Unfasten the retaining bolts...

Fig. Fig. 7: ... then remove the serpentine belt guard

Fig. Fig. 8: ...

Fig. Fig. 9: ... then remove the serpentine belt

1. Remove the belt. Clean the accessory drive belt surfaces.

Fig. Fig. 10: Serpentine drive belt routing-2.2L engine

Fig. Fig. 11: Removal and installation of the serpentine belt-2.3L engine

Fig. Fig. 12: Serpentine belt routing-2.5L engine with and without A/C

Fig. Fig. 13: Use an 18mm box end wrench on the pulley nut to rotate the tensioner on the 3.8L engine

Fig. Fig. 14: in. breaker bar to rotate the tensioner

Fig. Fig. 15: On the 3.4L, use a box end wrench, then rotate the tensioner clockwise and remove the serpentine belt

Remove the belt guard or coolant recovery reservoir as required.

If it's a v-6, then use a 1/2 " breaker bar to make the tensioner pulley move to loosen the belt if it's on there. If it's already off, this is the last pulley that you put the belt on.

Just buy the serpentine belt for the dngine that is in the cutlass supreme at your local parts store.

Then, thread the belt on to the pulleys with the grooved ends towards the grooved side of the belt, and the smooth sides towards the smooth pulleys until the last pulley is the tensioner pulley.

One may want to look at the tensioner and try to see if there is excessive side to side play which would cause the belt to fly off.

Good luck on this repair.

yes it can be changed as it sounds like the bearings are about ready to go out, you need to narrow it down to the correct pulley

heres a diagram to show you how the belt goes i also labeled where to loosen the belt with a rachet, this releases the tension so the belt can be removed.

Click on the following direct Link. It has the Serpentine Belt Diagrams that you will need for your specific engine size and options (AC/No AC...etc).

Standard Rules to Removal the Serpentine Belt with a Tensioner:
1. Find the Tensioner(s). (See Diagrams on Link)
2. Using a Serpentine Belt Tensioner Tool, Or Wrench OR Ratchet, Rotate/Move the Tensioner USING THE AVAILABLE NUT (on the Pulley or Arm Base) OR the OPENING (3/8ths or 1/2 inch square opening) rotating it\moving it away from contact with the belt and towards the area where the belt is not in contact with the Tensioner Pulley. The Tensioner is spring loaded, and is hard to rotate/move.
3. Remove the loosened belt off one of the other more easily accessed Pulleys.

Standard Rules for Installing the Serpentine Belt with Tensioners:
a. Pick a Pulley that is most easily accessed. This will usually be on top. This will be the last Pulley that the belt will go on.
b. Using the Diagram: Install the new Serpentine Belt on the remainder of the Pulleys....over, under, left right.
c. Using a Serpentine Belt Tensioner Tool or Wrench or Ratchet Tool: Rotate/Move the Tensioner Pulley/Arm "away" from Belt contact area on the Tensioner. This spring is pretty hard and with a new belt, it will be even harder to install. Rotate/Move this to as-close to the maximum allowed inorder to have enough slack in the belt to get it up and over the last pulley.
d. Using your other hand - Pull the Belt up and over the Last remaining Pulley.
e. Before releasing the pressure on the Tensioner, visually inspect the remainder Pulleys and the Belts' Positioning on them

Let me know if this helped, or if you have additional information or questions. Feel Free to contact me at FixYa.com!

http://www.2carpros.com/car_repair_information/year/1993/make/oldsmobile/model/cutlass_ciera/1993_oldsmobile_cutlass_ciera_drive_belt_routing_diagram.htm

Click on the following free direct Link. It has the Serpentine Belt Diagram and Tensioner location for your 1990 Oldsmobile Ciera, depending on your size 2.5L Engine options (AC/No AC, etc.).

GENERAL/Standard Rules to Removal the Serpentine Belt with a Tensioner:
A. Find the Tensioner(s). (See Diagrams on Link)
B. Using a Serpentine Belt Tensioner Tool, Or Wrench OR Ratchet, Rotate/Move the Tensioner USING THE AVAILABLE NUT (on the Pulley or Arm Base) OR the OPENING (3/8ths or 1/2 inch square opening) rotating the Tensioner Pulley/Arm - moving it away from contact with the belt and towards the area where the belt is not in contact with the Tensioner Pulley. The Tensioner is spring loaded, and is hard to rotate/move.
C. Remove the loosened belt off one of the other more easily accessed Pulleys.
D. DO NOT quickly release the Tensioner, but gently allow the Tensioner to rest in its closed position.

Standard Rules for Installing the Serpentine Belt with Tensioners:
a. Pick a Pulley that is most easily accessed. This will usually be on top. This will be the last Pulley that the belt will go on.
b. Using the Diagram: Install the new Serpentine Belt on the remainder of the Pulleys....over, under, left right.
c. Using a Serpentine Belt Tensioner Tool or Wrench or Ratchet Tool: Rotate/Move the Tensioner Pulley/Arm "away" from Belt contact area on the Tensioner. This spring is pretty hard and with a new belt, it will be even harder to install. Rotate/Move this to as-close to the maximum allowed inorder to have enough slack in the belt to get it up and over the last pulley.
d. Using your other hand - Pull the Belt up and over the Last remaining Pulley.
e. Before releasing the pressure on the Tensioner, visually inspect the remainder Pulleys and the Belts' Positioning on them.

Let me know if this helped, or if you have additional information or questions. Feel Free to contact me at FixYa.Com!

http://www.2carpros.com/car_repair_information/year/1990/make/oldsmobile/model/cutlass_ciera/1990_oldsmobile_cutlass_ciera_drive_belt_routing_diagram.htm

Depending on where you purchase the serpentine belt, and whether it's a budget or lifetime version, prices range from $18 to $33.

You can replace this belt yourself.

The belt goes around, and under various pulleys on your engine. There is ONE pulley that puts tension on this belt. There is a bracket, or 'arm', that this tensioner pulley is attached to. One simply takes a 1/2 inch breaker bar, and inserts it into a 1/2 inch square hole in that bracket.
You then pull the bracket over to one side with the breaker bar, (The direction will be pulling the tensioner pulley away from the serpentine belt), and slip the serpentine belt off of the pulleys.
The belt diagram of how the belt is placed around the pulleys, should be on the fan shroud support, or under the hood.

http://www.mvreader.com/multiview/dayco/catalogSearch.php?autoCatalogSearch=1&make=OLDSMOBILE&model=CUTLASS%20CIERA&year=1989&year_from=&year_to=&engine=All&l=n

This should Help. Please Rate My Response! Thanks!