Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting tension wheel - - serpentine belt - yikes!!

1996 Merc Mystique 2.0 litre 4 cly with A/C & power steering

Anyone know how/best method to get at tension wheel to replace serpentine belt?

any help is appreciated
Dennis

Replaced my serpentine belt some time ago, can only remember it was tough getting a wrench in there. But it was easy putting the new one on. I just lined the belt up on all the pulleys except the roller on top, held a rubber mallet (hammer would work too) by the head and pushed straight down on the belt far enough to slide it under the roller pulley. It was a snap. If you have a new belt and can't get the old one off just cut it and pull it out, put the new one in like I did. Probably take about ten minutes.
Doug

p.s. Mine is a 96 Contour ZETEC

You should consider a new �??tension wheel�?� with the new belt they do were out and can fall apart without warning.

You can buy, borrow or rent the proper tools for the belt installation.

jeff

mercman -

do you mean the tensioner pulley or the idler wheel? I had to replace the $10 tensioner wheel (which is also the idler wheel) on my 3.8 Buick @ 60k mi. which was a snap because it is right at the top - another 10 min job!

on the Merc, the idler wheel should be a snap but the tensioner is in a tight spot to get at!

kosmos -

I finally got the belt on - but took me 2 hours not 10 min!

What I did:

cut off old belt
routed belt onto all pulleys - except AC at top front of engine.
jacked up front
removed splash guard under pulleys behind passenger front tire
with 13mm box wrench, pushed tensioner pulley up enough while my bride slipped belt unto AC pulley

next time it will take me 10 minutes!

Thanks!