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1999 Chevy Malibu

S

Syrch

Diamond Member
Does anyone know how hard it is to change the belt? Firestone is telling me it needs to be changed and they want $140 to change it. I went to autozone and the belt cost $25. Now if this is something that i should even try i'll pay someone to do it but i don't see how it can be that hard. Also do I have to have the serpentine tool?
 
Pretty easy. Just need either a 1/2 or 3/8 bar to fit in the tensioner to loosen the belt.

But why on earth did you go to firestone???

And also first rule!


Year, make, model, engine, and milage please. 🙂
 
sorry sorry, 1999 chevy malibu v6 80k miles

I went to get a routine oil change, $16 bucks. Thats all i spent but they said the belt is beginning to crack. I really don't know where else to go....
 
If it's anything like my '91 Grand Prix, it's really quite easy to do. If it wasn't for a screw I had to pull off of one of the accessories, it could be done in about 20 seconds. Not exaggerating.
 
Here is a rough idea on what it involves...

Serp Belt


It shows a RWD car. Your belt will be on the Passside of the car but the instructions are pretty much the same.
Also autozone/Advance auto should have a Serp Belt tool in their loan a tool program.
 
It's not too hard as far as car work goes. Get a manual (local library often stocks them or go buy one from your auto parts store) for your car to help you route the belt. The more room around the belt the easier it will be.
 
I assume you have the 3100 sfi V6. I changed mine on my lumina with the same engine and was real easy. Here is a Pic

First you want to loosen the bolt the first arrow is pointing to. Then you want to get something (I used a pair of channel locks) to pull up on the tensioner so you can get the belt off of the alternator. Then just take the belt off and put your new belt on. I can't believe they wanted $140 to do this.
 
Just buy a KD Tools Gearwrench 3680 Serpentine Belt Tool. That's the tool that you will need to tension/untension the serpentine belt tensioner. AutoZone has a tool loaner program that should have a serpentine belt tool available as well.

Like Jensenfc said, release the tensioner by turning the bolt on the tensioner clockwise. While slowly turning the bolt clockwise, hold it down and slip the belt off the pulleys. Removing the RF tire and the inner splash guard may give you more access. Use a Gates or NAPA branded belt (reboxed Gates).
 
I did mine on the GM 3800 Gen II V6 .. basically the same motor as the 3100 .. you do not need to loosen anything .. just put a wrench (long handle) on the tensioner and move it out of the way .. it only needs to move about 1/2 inch or so to put enough slack in the belt to remove the old one or install the new one. On my car a 1999 Grand Prix, the coolant overflow bottle gets in the way, but that is only 2 10mm nuts to remove and it makes seeing / threading the new belt much easier. At most, an honest mechanic should charge no more than 15 mins labor as that is all this job takes.

FYI: On that engine to relieve the belt tension, the tensioner must move Toward The Firewall (that is if the pulley side of the motor is on the passenger side, as it is on the Grand Prix)
 
To do my old 3.1 Corsica they manual said to drop the engine.
Instead I bought an offset box end wrench and put a bend in it .
Sacrfice a 3 dollar tool to loosen the tensioner.
 
Originally posted by: bruceb
I did mine on the GM 3800 Gen II V6 .. basically the same motor as the 3100
Click to expand...

The 3800 and 3100 are nothing alike. The 3800 is a 90 degree block. The 3100 is a 60 degree block, in the same family as the 2.8/3.1/3400/3500.

They want $140 to do the job because on your application there is a motor mount that runs through the middle of the belt. So you will need to support the engine and remove a side of the motor mount to replace the belt. It's not a tough job, but you want the right tools and a proper space to do it in.

 
Originally posted by: desy
To do my old 3.1 Corsica they manual said to drop the engine.
Instead I bought an offset box end wrench and put a bend in it .
Sacrfice a 3 dollar tool to loosen the tensioner.
Click to expand...

Throw that manual in the trash. I've done many serpentine belts on 3.1 Corsicas/Berettas. It's a 15 minute job with basic hand tools.

 
I for one, would like to see a photo of that Motor Mount being in the way of the belt. Never heard of that on a GM engine (yet) .. I find it very hard to believe GM would not make it easy to change a belt. And I have never seen a motor mount on the front pulley side of GM engines. Side of the block and on top, yes.
 
Originally posted by: bruceb
I for one, would like to see a photo of that Motor Mount being in the way of the belt. Never heard of that on a GM engine (yet) .. I find it very hard to believe GM would not make it easy to change a belt. And I have never seen a motor mount on the front pulley side of GM engines. Side of the block and on top, yes.
Click to expand...

Here's all that I could find quickly:

http://www.beretta.net/model_info/images/94z26geng.jpg

See the silver-painted piece of metal between the belt and coolant overflow tank? That's part of a motor mount, and it does indeed go between the belt. This setup is on Malibu, Beretta, and Corsica 3100's, and possibly some other 3100 applications.

 
well i took the car to carmax where i got it 5 months ago and they are going to charge me $40 to do it. As much as i'd like to learn how i couldn't pass that deal up 🙁
 
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