Unbelievable: Belt will not fit on new tensioner!

Take the tensioner back and get the right one ;)

"MasterBlaster" I would normally try clockwise first, as counter-clockwise would remove

Thanks for your help MasterBlaster. I just called Carquest, and they have belts about 5 inches longer, which is what I need (costs $26). They knew how to find the length, while Advance Auto had no idea how to do this. Also, my local Chevy dealer stocks new tensioners for $120 (vs. $54 at Advance Auto), so if the new belt does not work, I will get the GM tensioner then. I'd rather do the new belt instead though than pay more than double for a GM tensioner and have to reinstall it all over again. At the same time though I wonder how much longer a GM tensioner would last over the aftermarket one though?

Julie

Julie

I'm tempted to, although the cost would be $120-$139, vs. $54 for the aftermarket one.

Julie

It is likely the pulley won't stay square to the belt with that bolt missing. This would mean the belt either gets fast chewed up or just jumps off.

Mike

I am thinking the parts store sold you the wrong part. It is even very possibly the wrong part in the right box even. This happens lots. I would take the old one with me and get them to match it up.

Mike

I'm thinking this too. Just go to a different parts store or order one online somewhere ($50 at autozone.com).

Save yourself a lot of headaches, and you will have the right part.

The store should have no trouble taking back a part that is wrong, even if it's dirty.

$54 + $26 = $80 for the wrong part plus a workaround, vs $120 from the dealer? No brainer, Julie...

You have no idea how much admiration I, and I am sure many others, have for you for seeing this through.

Most of us men have been through this sort of s*it before, and it is truly frustrating but there is ALWAYS a solution.

If you were near me, I would drive there and, at least, open the beers, or help while you beat this dog to death.

Best to you.

No doubt. Those ps pump bolts are a pain to get in and out.

You would probably have to remove that metal bracket that intersects with the tensioner bracket and also extends down to the front engine mount. Not a fun job just to retrieve one bolt. It would be far easier to simply go get another bolt and washer that will match and install it. The front three bolts will be more then enough to hold it as the same style of pump is used in other GM applications quite successfully with only the three bolts. On the other hand, I'm a big believer that bolts that were "intended" to be there, shouldn't just be left off.

Too bad one of us couldn't help you in person. I have the feeling that you might be missing something very simple. Perhaps not, but I've seen it happen numerous times.

Ian

One inch sounds like alot for a belt that was threaded around everything properly. Try to get it around everything but the alternator, pull all the slack out of the belt then try to get just a small part of the belt started on the alternator pulley. Turn the alternator and the belt might just pop on. Sometimes you just work on something too long...