If I loosen the tension bolt (the one you see while looking down the engine bay), will that give me enough slack to replace the belt? Thanks

 

Yes, that's the entire point of that assembly, to tension the belt.

Obviously you can't just loosen the adjustment bolt, but the answer is yes.

Is there some part of your question that may not be very obvious? Because as far as I can see, you're asking whether or not a piece of equipment can do what it's designed to do

Also, you are aware that there are two belts, correct?

 

How would he go about changing the power steering belt?

 

What else would I need to loosen other than the adjustment bolt? What confuses me is that I see some vid on youtube (non-max, since I couldn't find any), they usually just loosen the tensioner pulley and pull back the belt. The stickys show a page where there are a few key bolts. So I'm just looking for clarification.


The one I'm trying to replace is the accessory belt (serpentine).

 

You have to loosen the 14mm nut on the tensioner pulley itself first I believe, then loosen the adjuster on the top.

 

FWIW there are two accessory belts. You mean Alt/AC?

And obviously watching a video on a different make or model is completely irrelevant, as you have to follow the instructions specific to this tensioner. Loosen the 14mm head locknut, then adjust the main tensioner bolt.



By searching

 

Okay so 3 months later I just tackled this. My 14 mm wrench was a standard, and not long enough so I had to get the tensioner pulley from below and jacking the car up. It was fairly easy, just had to wait for the Penetrating Blaster to seep in so I wouldn't ruin the nut.

I left the Power Steering belt alone for now, (1) It didnt look that bad (2) I didn't want to spend another hour trying to figure out what the best way to get at it was.

Anyone know the best way to get at the Power Steering belt? Over the hood, under the car, what type of wrenches, etc...

 

I used a 14mm ratcheting wrench, from below. The open end stuck out just far enough past the axle for me to push up on it with a hammer handle to break the nut loose. After that, a lot of ratcheting. It was an entertaining test of manual dexterity.

I couldn't tell what loosening that nut did, exactly. So I didn't know how loose it needed to be. I nearly took it all the way off I think.

 

http://www.youtube.com/user/boredmde.../0/L8c1ezfX4jo

I found this youtube vid on the PS belt.

 

That's 1 of pmohr's great DIY vids.

 

nice car JNCOracer

 

I've read that you can just cut the old power steering belt off and slip the new one on withe a pry bar. Sounds brutal but I've read that somewhere on here.