How to Replace Serpentine Belt Tensioner 1999-07 Chevy Silverado

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The tensioner is a springed device that keeps the serpentine belt in your vehicle at the correct tension to keep it on the pulleys, without being so tight that it breaks. Eventually the tensioner may become worn, loose, or stuck, resulting in belts that squeak, slip, or fall off. This video shows you how to install a new TRQ tensioner pulley in your 1999-2007 Chevy Silverado.

This repair was done on a 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LT 5.3L and the process should be similar on the following vehicles:
1999 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
2000 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
2001 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
2002 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
2005 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
2006 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

Tools you will need:
• Socket Driver

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⚠ DISCLAIMER:
While TRQ strives to make the information provided in this video as accurate as possible, it makes no claims, promises, or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or applicability of the content. No information contained in this video shall create any expressed or implied warranty or guarantee of any particular result. All do-it-yourself projects entail some risk. It is the sole responsibility of the viewer to assume this risk. TRQ is not responsible or liable for any loss damage (including, but not limited to, actual, consequential, or punitive), liability, claim, or any other injury or cause related to or resulting from any information posted in this video.

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[TruckerC]

Thank you for taking the time to make and post this video. It is helpful for me to see before attempting. Even though this is easy/old hat for many.

[stevebelden]

Thanks for the great video - straight and to the point!

[Jacob-swfk]

Super helpful, especially mentioning the ft-lbs of torque (37) needed so I didn't have to look that up either.

[tonybamgviews]

If your tensioner is frozen, you would remove the idler pulley.. I’m doing this as we speak. And reason is, went to replace the alternator and couldn’t get the tensioner to engage, so now we are replacing it along with new belt.

[robpaul]

Can you use the part with 2 mounting bolts instead of 3? I went through gm parts giant they said it should fit right it has 2 bolt holes instead of 3? Need some advice or should I return it?

[davidwight]

My tensioner is frozen. How do you release the belt tension with a frozen tensioner?

[blackmatterlives]

So, when I got clockwise on the pulley bolt, it turns it doesn't catch. And yes I'm on the right pulley

[daz]

Never had to replace this part on my old engine... owned my 2001 2WD Silverado 1500 ext cab since 2002. Got 293K out of the 4.8l engine... Dropped a used 4.8l with 70K miles on it in there in 2018. Never had a pulley issue. Until today. Plastic (Gods, PLASTIC???!!) part of the pulley appears to have melted and spun itself off the metal bearing part, leaving only the grooved outer ring intact. Lost both belts... Barely made it off the freeway with no power steering... Never seen a part do something like this... I am mystified.

[BazookaIke]

Either my truck doesn't have a tensioner or it was frozen. I tried to go easy, but the tensioner didn't budge and the bolt stripped out.

[extrawhite]

It’s funny how you show you taking the belt off but the tensioner is brand new then on the next scene the tensioner is rusted

[ToxicGamer-uifs]

This is not helpful for me, nothin under my hood looks like that. I don't know what none of what you said means. You speak like we all know what everything is.