I have seen these break from too big of arms going in the wrong direction. Just make sure you have the geometry right (righty tighty, left loosey) before you get too aggresive. My $0.02....

 

That link is no longer working. My serpentine belt just ripped apart while I was driving...had to get towed home. I have a new belt in my trunk and would like to replace it myself rather than pay some overpriced charge to get it done.

 

Stand on passenger side of car, with the hood up. Locate the tensioner pulley (the only one with an "arm"; also has to coolant hoses running to its bracket. I forget the size, but attach a socket to the bolt on the pulley, and try to rotate the bolt counterclockwise. Realize this will require a bit of leverage, as the bolt won't move, but the pulley should pivot on its arm. Mount the belt and be done with it. It's easier to have most the belt routed beforehand, that way all you must do is slide it over one pulley or so. Alternator pulley is easiest I have found to be the last one to slide it over.

 

Thanks stang, I'll give it a go when it stops raining.

 

haha keep in mind ya don't wanna take the bolt off... put some pressure on it and the whole thing moves to give ya some slack in the belt. I did it for the first time a few weeks ago and that lil tidbit caught me off guard.

 

i founjd this was quite easy, i just turned the bolt towards the driver side, and it moved the whole tensioner, slipped the belt off, put the new belt on and routed it, then pushed the tensioner over again and slipped it back on.....first time wasnt too good.....belt slipped off but i was still driving just fine, had to drive the jeep back to find the belt in the middle of the road tho, next time i lined it up better, looks good so far.......was wicked easy, do it yourself, save baout $100

 

Holy $%#!