GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only

Diagnostic Aids

Excessive wear on drive belts is usually caused by incorrect installation or the incorrect drive belts for the application.

Minor misalignment of the accessory drive pulleys will not cause excessive wear, but will probably cause the drive belts to make a noise or fall off.

Excessive misalignment of the accessory drive pulleys will cause excessive wear and may also make the drive belts fall off.

Test Description

The numbers below refer to the step numbers on the diagnostic table.

  1. This inspection is to verify that the drive belts are correctly installed on all of the accessory drive pulleys. Wear on the drive belts may be caused by mis-positioning the drive belts by one or more grooves on a pulleys.

  2. The installation of drive belts that are too wide or too narrow will cause wear on the drive belts. The drive belt ribs should match all of the grooves on the pulleys.

  3. This inspection is to verify that the drive belts are not contacting any part of the engine or body while the engine is operating. There should be sufficient clearance when the accessory drive components load varies. The drive belts should not come in contact with an engine or a body component when snapping the throttle.

Step

Action

Yes

No

Notice: Refer to Belt Dressing Notice in the Preface section.

DEFINITION: Wear at the outside ribs of the drive belts due to incorrect installation of the drive belts.

1

Did you review the Symptoms - Engine Mechanical diagnostic information, and perform the necessary inspections?

Go to Step 2

Go to Symptoms - Engine Mechanical

2

Inspect the drive belts for proper installation.

Are the drive belts installed properly?

Go to Step 5

Go to Step 3

3

Inspect for the correct drive belts.

Is the correct drive belt installed?

Go to Step 5

Go to Step 4

4

Inspect the drive belts for signs of rubbing against a bracket, hose, or wiring harness.

Were the drive belts rubbing against anything?

Go to Step 5

Go to Diagnostic Aids

5

Replace the drive belts.

    • For the accessory drive belt, refer to Drive Belt Replacement - Accessory .
    • For the air conditioning drive belt, refer to Air Conditioning Compressor Belt Replacement .

Did you complete the replacement?

Go to Step 6

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6

Run the engine in order to verify the repair.

Is there still excessive drive belt wear?

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System OK