Drive Belt Routing Buick LeSabre VII

DESCRIPTION

Note. Description information not available for all vehicles and engines.

4.3L VIN W & 5.7L VIN P

A single serpentine drive belt is used to drive all engine accessories. (Scheme 13) On vehicles with the "V08" heavy-duty cooling system, an additional belt is used to drive the mechanical cooling fan. All belt-driven accessories are rigidly mounted to the engine with belt tension maintained by a spring loaded tensioner assembly.

The indicator just behind the tensioner assembly pulley must fall within the acceptable range once the belt is installed. (Scheme 13) If the indicator mark on the tensioner assembly does not fall within the acceptable range with the belt is properly installed, replace the belt.

3.8L SUPERCHARGED - VIN 1

Supercharged 3.8L engine uses two accessory drive belts. Outer belt drives generator and poer steering pump. Inner belt drives supercharger, water pump and A/C compressor. Drive belt tension is maintained by individual spring loaded tensioners.

Replace belt when worn or when tensioner indicates that belt has stretched beyond normal limits. (Scheme 2)

BELT ADJUSTMENT

Note. (Scheme 1)for aligning the drive belt.

Note. (Scheme 2)for identifying serpentine belt tension marks (typical illustration).

Note. DO NOT allow tensioner to snap against belt.

1. Serpentine belt is automatically adjusted by tensioner. To check for proper tensioning of belt, run engine at normal operating temperature with all accessories on. Turn steering wheel fully left and right several times (vehicles with power steering). Shut engine off.
2. Depress tensioner arm until belt becomes loose on pulleys. Slowly allow tensioner to return to belt. If mark on tensioner arm falls within operating range (2 marks) on tensioner body, go to next step. (Scheme 2) If mark is out of range, replace accessory drive belt. Re-check for correct operating range. If mark still does not fall within operating range, replace tensioner.
3. Measure belt tension. If tension is not as specified, replace belt. See «BELT TENSION»(/buick/lesabre/vii-1992-1999/remont/accessory-drive-belts/#drive-belt-routing) table.

BELT TENSION SPECIFICATIONS

Scheme 1

Scheme 2

Scheme 3

Scheme 4

Scheme 5

Scheme 6

Scheme 7

Scheme 8

Scheme 9

Scheme 10

Scheme 11

Scheme 12

Scheme 13

Scheme 14

REMOVAL/INSTALLATION

Note. Removal and installation information is not provided for all models and engines.

Removal

1. Insert 1/2 inch drive ratchet into drive belt tensioner.
2. Rotate tensioner clockwise and remove belt.

Installation

1. Route the accessory drive belt around the crankshaft, the air conditioning compressor, the idler, the generator, and the drive belt tensioner pulleys.
2. Insert a 1/2 inch drive ratchet into the drive belt tensioner. Rotate the tensioner clockwise. Route the remainder of the belt around the power steering pulley. Slowly rotate the drive belt tensioner counter clockwise until the drive belt is tight.
3. Remove the 1/2 inch drive ratchet. Check the drive belt for proper seating in all pulleys.

Note. Use (Scheme 1) - (Scheme 14) with this procedure.

1. Disconnect the battery negative cable.
2. If equipped with a mechanical fan: Remove the fan belt (198) from the tensioner assembly (40). Use 13-mm wrench to rotate tensioner pulley clockwise while sliding belt (198) from tensioner.
3. If equipped with a mechanical fan: Remove the fan belt (198) from pulleys (41 and 192). Remove radiator outlet pipe nuts at air conditioning compressor assembly. Raise and suitably support vehicle.
4. On all, remove serpentine drive belt (148) from tensioner assembly (253): Use 9/16-inch offset wrench to rotate tensioner pulley clockwise while sliding belt (148) from tensioner assembly pulley. Remove serpentine drive belt (148) from accessory pulleys.

Cleaning

Clean the serpentine drive belt surfaces.

1. Install serpentine drive belt (148) to accessory pulleys. Install serpentine drive belt (148) to tensioner assembly (253), making sure the drive belt (148) is aligned into proper grooves of accessory drive pulleys.
2. If equipped with a mechanical fan: Lower vehicle. Install radiator outlet pipe nuts at air conditioning compressor assembly. Install fan belt (198) to pulleys (41 and 192). Install fan belt (198) to tensioner assembly (40).
3. On all, connect battery negative cable.

Removal & Installation

Remove negative battery cable. Disconnect vacuum reservoir. Disconnect outer and inner accessory drive belts. On supercharged engines, disconnect heater hoses from pipes and pipes from engine. Using appropriate engine support fixture raise engine slightly to take weight off engine mounts. Remove two bottom bolts on front engine mount. Remove through bolt from front engine mount and remove mount. Remove belts from engine compartment. Installation is reverse of removal. (Scheme 9)and (Scheme 11). Tighten engine mount bolts to 65 Ft. Lbs. (87 N.m).

INSPECTION OF BELT

Routine inspection of the belt may reveal cracks in the belt ribs. These cracks will not impair belt performance and therefore should not be considered a problem requiring belt replacement. However, the belt should be replaced if the belt causes belt slip to occur or if sections of the belt ribs are missing.

See also:
• BELT TENSION