P80 -1998 serpentine belt tensioner tool tricks DIY

Post by **precopster** » 27 Sep 2012, 03:55

db130 wrote:the tool is for pre-99 cars

The tool is for pre '99 cars

The later cars either have a 12mm bolt or a difficult to access torx bolt

Post by **cn90** » 27 Sep 2012, 08:59

TheBraveOne wrote:
guambrocha wrote:...I've been looking for more info about serpentine belt and fortunately I found this one. Any updates for this? I might try that idea next week. I hope I can do it.

1993-1998 models use the square hole tensioner, which is about 3/4 inch.

In the plumbing world, the "1-inch plug" is basically a metal plug that caps a metal pipe with I.D. = 1".
So the "threaded portion" has a diameter of 1" but the square part (where you use the adjustable wrench to tighten) can be anywhere between a bit more than 1/2" to more than 3/4".

In the past (2 years ago when I "invented" this tool for myself), the square part was more than 3/4"....so besides grinding the threaded part flat on opposing sides (for the adjustable wrench), I had to also grind the square part down to 11/16" or so to fit inside the hole.

The good news is: Home Depot keeps changing their supplier for parts. So if you walk into Home Depot now, the current 1" plug has the square part that is exactly 11/16" (bring a ruler to measure), which fits perfectly into the square hole. All you have to do is file the threaded part flat on opposing sides and that is it. I just did it this last weekend.

So this is the update.

Post by **rspi** » 27 Sep 2012, 17:38

I've used that plumbing plug with no mods, just put a small pipe wrench on the threads and turned it.

hanzbe420 · Post by **hanzbe420** » 21 Sep 2013, 22:16

thought i would post this incase it would help anyone. 1/2 to 3/4 adapter, adjustable wrench, and a allen wrench or nail.. You have to take the ecu (computer) box out for it to fit (very simple 2 bolts & 3 clip's). It shows the tension relieved in the picture with the allen wrench in place holding the tension while belt is removed.

Post by **abscate** » 22 Sep 2013, 04:36

This mod was discovered by a German astrophysicist in the 1950s, and s/he was so excited that later in the day, driving to work in a VW microbes, the phenomenon known as the Van Allen belts was named...

Trivia for Sunday

hanzbe420 · Post by **hanzbe420** » 22 Sep 2013, 05:40

a radiation belt? ughhhhh i think u posted in the wrong section....

Marty27 · Post by **Marty27** » 13 Mar 2016, 03:15

My version! Thanks for the idea.

Post by **abscate** » 13 Mar 2016, 06:43

Changed title and flagged for VRD

beigg · Post by **beigg** » 13 Mar 2016, 09:15

I use the adapter with an extended handle (22mm iirc) wrench on the adapter. Unplugging connector while re-positioning of coolant reservoir is required.