How to Replace the Serpentine Belt on a Chevy Tracker
by Russell Wood
An engine with a serpentine belt uses just that one belt to turn all of the pulleys on an engine, including those that drive accessories. The serpentine belt itself is driven by the crankshaft. When the serpentine belt breaks or goes out for other reasons, all of the accessories will fail, making driving the car difficult if not impossible. Replacing the belt isn't difficult, particularly on a Chevy Tracker, and can be done in 30 minutes.
Step 1
Locate the belt routing diagram for your engine in your owner's manual. If you can't find the diagram or the manual, look for the diagram on the fan shroud. If you don't find a diagram there, draw a diagram yourself that shows the route your serpentine belt takes around the pulleys.
Step 2
Open the hood and locate the tensioner on the front of the engine block, toward the top of the engine block. Place the socket on a 1/2-inch breaker bar and turn the tensioner clockwise to allow the belt to fall slack (if the belt hasn't fallen off already). Pull the belt off of the pulley system at this time.
Step 3
Run the replacement belt around the pulleys until you can't go any further, starting on the bottom and following your belt routing diagram.
Step 4
Turn the tensioner clockwise using the breaker bar and socket, then run the belt around the remaining pulleys as well as underneath the tensioner. Slowly return the tensioner to its normal position.
Step 5
Look at the belt and make sure there are no bends or kinks along the path, then double-check that it's routed correctly.
Things You'll Need
- 1/2-inch breaker bar and sockets
- Owner's manual
- Replacement serpentine belt
Writer Bio
Russell Wood is a writer and photographer who attended Arizona State University. He has been building custom cars and trucks since 1994, including several cover vehicles. In 2000 Wood started a career as a writer, and since then he has dedicated his business to writing and photographing cars and trucks, as well as helping people learn more about how vehicles work.
