How-To: Replace An Alternator

Step 3 Remove The Belt From The Pulley

Every project has a tough spot, and this is the tough spot for alternator replacement: remove the belt from the pulley. Somewhere on your vehicle there is a tensioner pulley. You'll need to move it enough to slip the belt off the pulley. Our '95 GMC has a standard spring-loaded GM tensioner that required us to pull it back with a wrench. On some vehicles you'll find screw-type or rod-end type tensioners that apply tension by turning a bolt through threads to increase/decrease the length of a rod. In this case, just turn the bolt/rod-end with a wrench or socket until it releases enough tension to allow you to remove the belt.

In our case we grabbed a Craftsman 17mm Cross Force wrench and pushed hard. Normally that would be a pretty painful experience, but the Cross Force was designed for just such a situation. There's a 90-degree twist in the middle of the Cross Force wrenches, so you end up pushing on a flat surface. The result: we could push harder without discomfort. So we just laid into it and the belt came free.