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Re: Changing belt on 89 9000 Posted by Ari [Email]  (#2847) [Profile/Gallery]
(more from Ari) on Fri, 10 Jan 2003 09:28:25
In Reply to: Changing belt on 89 9000, wally, Thu, 9 Jan 2003 23:52:43 Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup |
It's not a bad job. The last time I did the serpentine belt on my '88, it took about 20 minutes. I've also had practice.
There are two different kinds of belt tensioners. The older style is manually adjusted. You can tell because the serpentine belt (longer belt) idler pulley assembly has a threaded rod with an adjusting nut pointing up and forward. The automatic adjuster has what looks like a little shock absorber.
I'll assume you've got the manual. I can never remember when Saab went to the auto adjust.
Step 1 is to move the coolant tank. There is a 10 mm bolt holding it in place. Remove the bolt, and slide the tank aside. No need to remove it, just get some room.
Step 2 is to remove the A/C belt. The AC idler pulley has a 13mm and 17mm nut on the face. Loosen the 13mm a turn or two (don't remove) and then loosen the 17mm - the belt will loosen. BEFORE YOU REMOVE IT, note which grooves it runs in in the AC pulley.
Step 3- the serpentine belt idler pulley has two bolts - one 13mm runs through the center of it - horizontally, with the head towards the right front wheel. Loosen that bolt a turn or two. Then find the adjusting nut, which runs on the threaded rod that points up and forward. Tightening that nut slides the pulley up and forward, which tightens the belt. Loosen that nut so that the pulley slides down and back.
Step 4 - check the pulleys. Spin both idler pulleys with the belts off. They should spin freely and smoothly. If they feel rumbly, the bearings are shot. You've got two choices - one, replace just the bearing; two replace the pulley. Some folks have pressed out the bearings, found replacements at the autoparts store, pressed in new ones, and gone on happy. I just replace the pulleys if bad. They're frightfully expensive from the dealer, and quite reasonable mail order. Order from the sponsors of this BB (see the bottom of the page).
Step 5- put the new serpentine belt on. You've got to get it under the main pulley (crankshaft) which will require some work, but it does fit. Try not to get too much grease and dirt on the belt. I don't think you need to remove the idler pulley, but if you do, just remove the horizontal 13mm bolt. With the new belt on, tighten the belt by tightening the adjusting nut on the threaded rod. The horizontal part of the belt should be pretty tight - only about 1/4 inch of deflection with some decent force. When you've got the tension you want, tighten down the horizontal 13mm.
Then put the AC belt on. To tighten the AC belt, but an open-end or box-end 17mm wrench on the big bolt, and slide a box wrench or socket on the 13mm. It takes three hands, but it's doable. You tighten the belt with the 17mm, and while holding it in place, tighten down the 13mm.
Replace the coolant reservoir - don't overtighten the 10mm bolt.
Check your belt tension again in 500 miles.
It sounds complex, but it's not that hard. It makes a lot more sense when you actually look at the stuff.
posted by 192.249....
, Fri, 10 Jan 2003 09:28:25 <-- Viewing This Message
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