I'm reinstalling a serpentine belt when mine shredded into a million pieces yesterday, and sliced up my AC belt. Audi a4 1.8T fwd, 1997. I got the AC belt off, threadded the new belt on, except for the pully at the top, put the Ac belt and it's tensioner back on, but I can't get a hold of the serpentine belt tensioner to pull it out of the way. the chilton manuals doesn't provide details and only has a thin wrench or tool going toward the tensioner. I can see a hole where I imagine my leverage point is, but I can't reach it with my fingers to tell if it's threadded. Am I missing a bolt that goes there to grab onto, or do I need a special tool, breaker bar, whatever to get ahold of it. I'm really stuck.

Plus the AC belt tensioner seems to bind on the serpentine belt, but I think I just don't have it seated right yet. Any help from experience would be appreciated!

 

I got ya covered - just let me grab some pics from my camera - I did my timing belt the other day.


EDIT:

OK check these out - hopefully they will help you out - these pics are going into the Timing Belt tech article I am writing:

 

You can also use an open end wrench on it.

 

The belt went back on fine, but I'm trying to find why it shredded into a million pieces.

My first idea is when I put the tensioner back it was nice and flat into place but after running the engine it vibrates terribly when it's running. Is that common for the tenioner to vibrate tight and loose by 1/2 inch? Then it's only set on half the belt, the rotational arm comes away from the cup of the bracket of the tensioner by 3/8. Does this mean it's busted or is it not supposed to rest flat on the belt? I think I may need to replace it. Is 105K right for that part to be replaced or is it a rare replacement.

(I've already decided to let it go for a while but i'm nervous the same will happen again, and i'm interested on others opinion. The part is $75 but I can't get my allen keys into the gap to undo it, so ug, I don't want to cut down allen keys).

 

The tensioner shouldnt be bouncing around like that. You have a bad tensioner. The belt should rest and run centered on the tensioner roller.

 

Yep. That's what I was afraid of. Thanks to all for your advice.

Projected Total Repair Cost:

$130 for the tow
$20 for the metric allen set.
$30 for the S belt
$20 for the A/C belt.
$75 for the tensioner.
____
$275

Not terrible.