It takes all of two minutes to get the skid plate off - four 12MM bolts. Do yourself a favor and get it out of the way. Goes back on in under one minute. Use a 12" extension to get to bolts easy.
As mentioned before the AC belt idler pulley bolt is the locking bolt for the tensioning bolt on the AC belt. Very easy to get to with skid plate out of the way from under the truck. The tensioner bolt location and function obvious. AC belt comes off first - goes on last.
Alternator - water pump belts. Use six point 13MM socket for tension lock bolt. Get at it from under the truck - with the skid plate out of the way - where you can see it and reach it easily. Use a 15MM socket with 3" extension to loosen alternator pivot bolt from the top of engine compartment. Seems like nobody else does this - how do they get the alternator to pivot freely? Loosen both slightly to adjust tensioner for belt removal and installation.
FYI - I replaced my alternator tension lock bolt with a nice square shouldered 13MM bolt as the factory nut will and does round off easily.
Access 12 MM alternator tensioning nut by removing front drivers side wheel well curtain and use 18" extension to loosen completely to get old belts off very easy. You can see it from the wheel well - it's a straight shot once the curtain is off.
Once belts are on - tighten tensioning bolt by hand with extension and 12MM socket. DO NOT overthighten belts. Do not use air wrench. Belts are rule of thumb correct when you can move 1/4 to 1/2 inch applying thumb pressure. Retighten pivot and tensioner lock bolts on alternator.
Replace AC belt, tension and lock. Reinstall that skid plate that's so hard to get off. Run engine for 20 minutes and recheck tension. If loose - adjust accordingly. Good luck.
PS - don't take your battery and battery box out to do this. The removal of the wheel well curtain is the secret of this job. I can do it in 20 minutes flat.
As mentioned before the AC belt idler pulley bolt is the locking bolt for the tensioning bolt on the AC belt. Very easy to get to with skid plate out of the way from under the truck. The tensioner bolt location and function obvious. AC belt comes off first - goes on last.
Alternator - water pump belts. Use six point 13MM socket for tension lock bolt. Get at it from under the truck - with the skid plate out of the way - where you can see it and reach it easily. Use a 15MM socket with 3" extension to loosen alternator pivot bolt from the top of engine compartment. Seems like nobody else does this - how do they get the alternator to pivot freely? Loosen both slightly to adjust tensioner for belt removal and installation.
FYI - I replaced my alternator tension lock bolt with a nice square shouldered 13MM bolt as the factory nut will and does round off easily.
Access 12 MM alternator tensioning nut by removing front drivers side wheel well curtain and use 18" extension to loosen completely to get old belts off very easy. You can see it from the wheel well - it's a straight shot once the curtain is off.
Once belts are on - tighten tensioning bolt by hand with extension and 12MM socket. DO NOT overthighten belts. Do not use air wrench. Belts are rule of thumb correct when you can move 1/4 to 1/2 inch applying thumb pressure. Retighten pivot and tensioner lock bolts on alternator.
Replace AC belt, tension and lock. Reinstall that skid plate that's so hard to get off. Run engine for 20 minutes and recheck tension. If loose - adjust accordingly. Good luck.
PS - don't take your battery and battery box out to do this. The removal of the wheel well curtain is the secret of this job. I can do it in 20 minutes flat.
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job, the shop where they swapped them last time probably assigned the job to their entry level/rookie tech and they love torque. I have seen this many times in different cars those bolts can be hard to crack.
-- with the smallest degree swing to engage. 5% minimum...less than that if you can find it.
