Engine belt for 3.4L Chevy

[bassahaulic 155]

My belt broke today on the van, It looks pretty straight forward to replace it. Anyone have any experience with the sideways mounted 3.4L Chevy motors?

I'm used to the forward mounted V8's in my trucks lol

[Tirefryr 1,742]

Autozone has online repair guides.

Should be as simply as releasing the tensioner, removing the belt and installing a new one.

[bassahaulic 155]

Autozone has online repair guides.

Should be as simply as releasing the tensioner, removing the belt and installing a new one.

Other belt is laying in my front yard, it sheered in half.

I was wondering if anyone had any tips for getting my big arm into the space to put the new one on.

[sandt38 448]

I use a long tool designed specifically for fitting belts around pulleys that are hard to reach

http://www.handsontools.com/OTC-7654-Serpentine-Belt-Installation-Tool_p_6212.html

I also use the extended tools for releasing the tensioner:

http://www.amazon.com/Wrench-3680-Serpentine-Tool-Piece/dp/B0002WSFTO

But TBH the old school style works really well too:

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00941831000P?vName=Tools&cName=Auto&MechanicsTools&sName=Auto%20Specialty%20Tools&sid=IDx20070921x00003a&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=00941831000P

In many cases the old 3.1 Chevy motor (the platform for the SOHC3.4s) required us to remove the little plastic plate that has the belt diagram on, the one monuted just above the water pump, which is the smooth pulley on the left side of the motor (facing the front of the engine, it would be the right side). But in more recent years they made it fairly accessible without removing it. I suggest getting the belt around all the lower pulleys, particularly the grooved pulleys, and work your way up to the water pump pully. It will slip on the smooth pulley easier then the grooved pulleys with their high lands to keep the belt in place.

Also, it is rare for a serp belt to just break. Check to ensure you didn't have a pulley locked up. Those things eat up the bearing and pulley assys on the AC compressors.