How to Route the Outer Belt on a Buick Excelle?

[McHaven]

Turn off the engine and allow it to cool down, then open the engine hood to locate the engine. Loosen the generator's main pulley shaft and release the adjustment bolt on the generator. Adjust the pivot bolt. Pull the auxiliary pulley on the generator outward and move the generator inward to release the belt. Align the generator's main pulley shaft to the correct position, place the generator's belt onto the main pulley shaft, and pull the generator outward. Route the generator's belt onto the two auxiliary pulleys. Adjust the pivot bolt. Install the generator's timing cover, and the generator belt will then be properly installed.

[OAvery]

I've been repairing cars for nearly twenty years, and the belt routing for the Buick Excelle depends on the specific model. For the 1.6L engine, the routing is: crankshaft pulley → A/C compressor → alternator → water pump → tensioner pulley → power steering pump → and back to the crankshaft pulley. The 1.8L has an additional idler pulley, so you need to route the belt around the idler pulley first before going to the power steering pump. The key is to use a special wrench to press the tensioner pulley all the way down; otherwise, the belt won't fit. After installation, remember to pull the belt and check for about 10mm of deflection—that's the right tension. Always double-check that the belt grooves are aligned correctly. Last time, my apprentice installed it backward, and the belt wore out in just three days. It's safest to work on a cold engine to avoid burns, and while you're at it, check for any play in the pulley bearings. This job is best done with two people: one to press the tensioner pulley and the other to thread the belt—it's easier and more accurate that way.

[DelHarper]

Last week, I helped my younger brother replace the belt on his Excelle. It wasn't actually that difficult. The safest approach is to sketch the old belt's routing on a piece of white paper—start from the crankshaft pulley at the very bottom, then loop around the AC compressor and alternator, pass over the water pump, and finally thread back through the tensioner pulley and power steering pump. Use a 15mm box-end wrench to press the tensioner bolt firmly toward the front of the car until you hear a click to lock it in place. When installing the new belt, apply some finesse—don't force it to avoid damaging the belt teeth. After installation, release and listen: a humming noise means it's too tight, while a squeaking sound indicates it's too loose. I recommend replacing the tensioner pulley along with the belt, as plastic pulleys tend to crack with age. I learned this the hard way—had to redo the job just two weeks after replacing the belt.

[BarrettFitz]

Excelle Belt Routing in 3 Steps: Disconnect battery & remove old belt, thread new belt along path, adjust tension & test. Start at crankshaft pulley → route past A/C compressor pulley → up to alternator → around water pump pulley → close loop via tensioner & power steering pump pulleys. Use ratchet wrench to fully depress tensioner - belt should slide easily into grooves. After release, mid-span deflection should be ~1/2 finger width. Test at idle for 5 minutes before driving. Check for belt flutter with flashlight & inspect edge alignment. Pro tip: Clean pulley grooves of debris before installation - contaminants cause premature wear.