1997 Chevrolet Lumina Belt Misalignment

1997 CHEVROLET TRUCK
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OREO
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About one month ago I replaced a broken serpintine belt on a 97 Chevy Lumina. Yesterday the replaced belt....it was shreaded!! I replaced the belt tensioner because it was damaged when the belt broke. I also looked at all the pulleys to see what might have caused this.

I discovered that the main pulley from the camshaft that drives the belt does not line up with with the other pulleys. I checked the pulley on the camshaft and it is tight.

I installed a new belt and can see that the belt does not ride on the camshaft pulley correctly.

Is the misalignment of the camshaft pulley normal? If not what would have caused this and what can be done to correct this?

Thank you for your answer!
Jan 11, 2006 at 2:24 AM
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2CARPRO JACK
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If you mean the crankshaft then the balancer might be falling apart
Jan 11, 2006 at 7:15 AM
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CARADIODOC
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2CarPros editorial correction - October 12, 2026

An unrelated reply containing personal attacks and political commentary has been withdrawn. It did not address this owner's belt-alignment question. Readers deserve respectful, relevant assistance. For the reported repeated belt damage and visible misalignment, keep the engine off until the belt drive and crankshaft pulley/balancer have been inspected. A failing balancer was suggested, but no inspection result or completed repair was reported.
Dec 9, 2012 at 3:56 PM
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CARADIODOC
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2CarPros editorial correction - October 12, 2026

The original follow-up acknowledged that the preceding unrelated reply had reached the wrong discussion. That reply and the insulting language in this follow-up have been withdrawn. Neither supplied diagnostic evidence about this Lumina.
Dec 9, 2012 at 4:15 PM
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Suggested Repair

Do not run the engine until the belt drive is inspected. The misalignment is not normal. If the misaligned pulley is the crankshaft pulley, inspect the harmonic balancer for separation or failure and replace it if it is coming apart; also recheck alignment, the tensioner, and the other pulleys before fitting another belt.

Conversation Summary

The owner of a 1997 Chevy Lumina said a replacement serpentine belt shredded after about a month. The tensioner had been replaced, but the new belt still did not track correctly because a drive pulley, described as the camshaft pulley, appeared misaligned even though it was tight. An expert said that if the owner meant the crankshaft pulley, the balancer might be failing. Editorial notes removed unrelated abusive replies and advised keeping the engine off until the belt drive and crankshaft pulley or balancer were inspected. No inspection result or completed repair was reported.

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