Alright, here's the story. I put a head gasket on a 94 Cav (2.2) and replaced the serp. belt tentioner assembly (the whole piece that bolts to the pass side of the block). After I got everything together, the original serp. belt did not fit, and I had to get one 1 inch longer. After I put that belt on, it shreaded it because the PS pump is about 1 rib closer to the block than everything else. I don't see how the PS pump can be installed any differently to bring it to where it should be. The new tensioner assembly looked exactly the same as the old one, but something is definately not right. I've looked all over for a 4 ribbed belt of the same length, but I can't find one. Does anyone have any idea on what the problem might be? Or maybe pictures of how the PS pump is mounted? I'm stumped......
Timbo
Stupid question - did you route the belt correctly according to the diagram? It's very easy to get it wrong. Maybe that's why the original belt didn't fit.
Please ignore any of this if you know it already
Have you compared the new tensioner plate with the old, checking how the belt will align?
I am looking at my '93 book.
From the drivers LHS the assembly is pump,steel power steering pump bracket, tensioner plate and the three securing bolts inserted, from the RHS, through the pulley holes to attach.
If this is all identically assembled the tensioner must surely be different---the original belt should fit and should be replaced with an identical one.
You said
[replaced the serp. belt tentioner assembly (the whole piece that bolts to the pass side of the block). After I got everything together, the original serp. belt did not fit]
Looking in from the right front wheel the tensioner pulley has to be turned CLOCKWISE to install the belt.
There are actually 3 marks on the tensioner plate (behind the pulley) ---Replace---Nominal Belt---- and Install
Let us know your progress
Good Luck
Alont
I tried almost every possible way to route it after i tried several times to route it according to the diagram.
Alont- Your description of how everything is bolted together is how I have it. It almost seems like if I remove the steel PS bracket the pump would move to the right of the car enough to make the belt go on straight, but I think that would affect the structural integrity of the pump mounting, as I'm not sure if I trust just the tensioner bracket to hold the pump. I'm going to disassemble everything this afternoon and see what I have going on from there. Thanks for the reply!
Timbo
I took the new tensioner off and put the old one on and everything lines up. I put the new one back on and it doesn't line up. Looking at the two side by side there seems to be no difference, but there must be because one works and one doesn't. After putting the old one back on the original belt fit again too! So....... a defective part it is!
Timbo
Great to hear you solved it.
Thanks for posting the answer
Alont
Timbo, how difficult is it to get that belt tensioner off? Seems like the idler pully on it for my 98 Cav might be acting up. It's starting to squeal at times. But it's difficult to pinpoint the noise. Sometimes it sounds like the alternator.
