GM 19244951
Drive Belt

Service and repair operations on the Drive Belt require the first step to be disconnecting the battery ground cable. To remove the Drive Belt tension service professionals must raise or rotate the Drive Belt tensioner off the Drive Belt path by using a 3/8-inch breaker bar. Then, remove the Drive Belt. To install the Drive Belt position it on the system following the proper grooves of accessory Drive Belt pulleys. Using a 3/8-inch breaker bar lift or rotate the Drive Belt tensioner pulley until the Drive Belt installation position is complete under the Drive Belt tensioner pulley. Verify ideal routing of the Drive Belt. Confirm the Drive Belt length scale on the Drive Belt tensioner shows the right installed size before putting back the battery ground cable.

The supercharged 3800 engine operates with two belts where the outer belt controls the supercharger operation simultaneously the inner belt manages the generator and three additional devices which include the Power Steering Pump and coolant pump and air conditioning compressor that mount to the engine rigidly. A spring-loaded system called a tensioner controls the Drive Belt tension and each belt operates with its unique tensioner unit. Drive Belt squeaks during engine start and stop are standard and have no impact on its lifespan yet using a tensioner beyond its operational boundaries might result in poor tension management and possibly lead to tensioner damage forcing users to replace the belt. First remove the drive belts through this procedure: apply a 15-mm box end wrench to the pulley nut before tilting or rotating the Drive Belt tensioner and unfasten the supercharger Drive Belt and then the inner Drive Belt. Apply the 15-mm box end wrench to lift or rotate the Drive Belt tensioner before installing first the inner Drive Belt then repeating with the supercharger Drive Belt tensioner to install the supercharger Drive Belt.

A supercharged 3800 engine contains two drive belts: one operates the supercharger while the other powers the generator and steering pump, water pump and air conditioning compressor components that are fixed to the engine with tension-automated tensioners to support belt tension. The Drive Belt produces normal squeaking sounds during engine start or stop without affecting its lifespan although using the tensioner beyond its operational range could produce poor tension management that requires replacement of the belt. The Drive Belt replacement process starts by lifting or rotating the supercharger Drive Belt tensioner through application of a 15 mm box end wrench to its pulley nut. Then you can remove the supercharger Drive Belt. The next step requires you to utilize a 15 mm box end wrench on the pulley nut to lift or rotate the tensioner for removing the inner Drive Belt. The installation procedure requires lifting or rotating the tensioner pulley by using a 15 mm box end wrench followed by inserting the inner Drive Belt before raising or rotating the tensioner again to install the supercharger Drive Belt.

Place the new drive belt in position and inspect both the drive belt and the drive belt system, ensuring the drive belt is aligned in the correct grooves of the accessory drive belt pulleys.

Take off the drive belt.

Install the new drive belt.

Again, lift or rotate the drive belt tensioner with the same 15 mm box end wrench on the pulley nut.

Remove the drive belt tension by lifting or rotating the drive belt tensioner off the drive belt with a 3/8-inch breaker bar, then take off the drive belt.

After placing the new drive belt, ensure that the mark on the drive belt tensioner is within range as indicated on the tensioner housing.

Confirm that the mark on the drive belt tensioner remains within the indicated range on the tensioner housing and that the drive belt tensioner is functioning correctly.

Confirm that the drive belt is correctly routed and that the mark on the drive belt tensioner remains within the specified range on the tensioner housing.