Park Avenue Serpentine Belt

AREPA

MEMBER
1997 BUICK PARK AVENUE
6 CYL
2WD
AUTOMATIC
70,000 MILES

I have a 1997 Buick Park Avenue Base engine. I am thinking about changing the serpentine belt. It isn't really bad looking, but I am thinking that it's time to change it soon. Just looking at it from the top under the hood, it looks like it would be impossible to route a new belt to the crankshaft pulley without removing an engine mount. The rest of the pulleys look easy, but I am wondering if this is a bigger challenge than some make it seem. Everywhere I have read, it just says to re-route the new belt like the old one and to use the tensioner pulley.

3 Replies

RASMATAZ

MECHANIC
75,992 POSTS

What liter engine is this?

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Friday, November 19th, 2010 AT 11:19 PM

AREPA

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3.8 litre. Not supercharged. Buick's "L36", "K" engine.

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Friday, November 19th, 2010 AT 11:33 PM

RASMATAZ

MECHANIC
75,992 POSTS

NOTE: The accessory drive belt drives all engine mounted accessories. All driven accessories are rigidly mounted to the engine. Drive belt tension is maintained by a spring loaded belt tensioner. A belt squeak when the engine is started or stopped is normal and has no effect on belt durability. The drive belt tensioner can control belt tension over a broad range of belt lengths; however, there are limits to the tensioner's ability to compensate. Using the tensioner outside of its operating range can result in poor tension control and/or damage to the tensioner.

CAUTION: Ensure that the wood block extends past the width of the oil pan in order to avoid damage.

REMOVAL

Use a jack with a block of wood on the jack under the oil pan in order to support the engine.

Remove the engine mount to engine mount bracket nuts.
Remove the engine mount bracket front upper and lower nuts.
Remove the engine mount bracket front upper and lower studs and spacer.

Lower the engine as necessary and rotate the tensioner to remove the drive belt.

Remove the drive belt.

INSTALLATION
Install the drive belt.
Install the engine mount bracket front upper and lower studs and spacers.
Install the engine mount bracket front upper and lower nuts. Tighten the nuts to 78 Nm (58 ft. Lbs.).
Install the engine mount to engine mount bracket nuts. Tighten the nuts to87 Nm (64 ft. Lbs.).
Remove the floor jack.

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Monday, November 22nd, 2010 AT 9:17 AM