How to Remove a Serpentine Belt Using a Jacking Screw Tensioner

A jacking screw style tensioner can be used on some cars to help you change the serpentine belt instead of a pulley style tensioner depending on the make and model of your car. Consult your car manual to determine which kind of tensioner is on your car before you go to replace a worn out serpentine belt. If you have the right tensioner, read on to learn how to remove a serpentine belt using a jacking screw tensioner.

Instructions

1

Locate the jacking screw. The jacking screw looks like a long screw with a bolt on one end and goes through a large block attached to one of the accessory devices. The jacking screw rotates a device that the block is attached to that loosens the serpentine belt when the device is rotated.

2

Loosen the mounting bolts. These are located above and beneath the jacking screw device. They are exposed bolts and the location varies depending on the make and model of the car. Consult your car manual for specific locations.

3

Turn the jacking screw bolt counterclockwise to loosen the serpentine belt. This rotates the attached accessory device and makes the serpentine belt easier to remove.

4

Remove the serpentine belt. Once the serpentine belt has been loosened properly, slide it off one of the pulleys attached to the device closest to the jacking screw tensioner. Once the serpentine belt has been pulled off one pulley, the serpentine belt can easily come free from the rest of the pulleys.

5

Leave the jacking screw tensioner in the current position. Once removing the serpentine belt, do not return the jacking screw to its original position. This allows you to easily put a new serpentine belt on without having to retrace your steps.