Help with Serpentine Belt - E36

[jasminesdad]

So I successfully replaced my alternator on my 95 318i but ran into a PITA getting the serpentine belt back on. Used a 16mm wrench to depress the tensioner arm, threaded the belt perfectly but can't get that booger around the alternator pulley.

The belt is a tad too tight to stretch over the pulley. It's the same belt that was on before, so I know it fits. I just can't figure out how to get it back on. Is there a trick to stretching the belt or moving the pulleys to make it easier?

[318bud]

just try wrappin it around one of the two sides first
and try both sides
it'll go on

[benemorius]

Do you have the belt routed properly? You can try stretching it over a different pulley last, but I think I do the alternator last too. Either that or the power steering pump.

[jasminesdad]

Do you have the belt routed properly? You can try stretching it over a different pulley last, but I think I do the alternator last too. Either that or the power steering pump.

Yeah, it's routed properly and I tried routing over different pulleys but no luck. In fact, I think I damaged the belt around the outer edge when I tried fitting over the pulley. It's not an original BMW belt, so that might be the problem...

I'm going to give it one more try - with a new belt - before taking to the local mechanic. :shifty

[dcwright]

Route it over the tensioner last. It doesn't have a shoulder that the belt has to clear like the other pulleys do.

[LarryNH914]

Hi,

I have a question..... What do you (typically) do when your serpentine tensioner has NEITHER a 8mm socket OR a 16mm nut.

When I took the plastic cap off, there was only a flat plate behind it.

Looks like the Tensioner had a place to put a pin (or nail) to hold it open, and had some ridges that I guess you could pry against (I had nothing that would work, not a long screwdriver or crowbar...)

Is there a special tool for this???

(as an aside, what I did was to route the belt over everything but the alternator, and I found that I could 'muscle' it by pulling both sides, before and after the alternator pulley and put the loop over the alternator pulley (requires removal of air filter box))

I have a 1998 323i Convertible. Also, there was no idler pulley above the tensioner pulley like I have seen in pictures.

Another aside.... Was doing thermostat at the same time, so needed to take off fan. Was a bit difficult (left handed threads, turn CLOCKWISE to loosen) I found that if I wedged a wooden hammer handle under the fan pulley and the belt, this provided enough tension so I could remove the fan bolt (did not seem to damage the old belt, but your mileage may vary). Took over half an hour till I found this trick.

Anyhow...... The Bently manual has NOTHING on the belt. Is there a special tool when there is no 8mm or nut in the tensioner pulley?

[TheBigSwede]

I have a 92 325i. Mine has a spot to insert a 8mm allen wrench. On my car it is nearly impossible without taking off the fan assembly(fan clutch)

[LarryNH914]

I have a 92 325i. Mine has a spot to insert a 8mm allen wrench. On my car it is nearly impossible without taking off the fan assembly(fan clutch)

Yes, my A/C belt had the 8MM hex allen, but not the main serpentine belt.