The main pulley shakes and makes a clicking noise. When I tried to loosen the tensioner belt bolt it came loose easily and won't tighten up all the way, almost like it is stripped. I was thinking that the bearings may be bad on the inside of the tensioner belt pulley. What do you suggest I try next?

ADJUSTMENT

Excessive belt tension will cause damage to the alternator and water pump pulley bearings, while, on the other hand, loose belt tension will produce slip and premature wear on the belt. Therefore, be sure to adjust the belt tension to the proper level.
To adjust the tension on a drive belt, loosen the adjusting bolt or fixing bolt locknut on the alternator, alternator bracket or tension pulley. Then move the alternator or turn the adjusting bolt to adjust belt tension. Once the desired value is reached, secure the bolt or locknut and recheck tension.

REMOVAL & INSTALLATION

1.5L, 1.6L, 1.8L, 2.0L and 2.4L Engines

Fig. Accessory V-belt routing-Mitsubishi 1.5L, 1.6L, 1.8L, 2.0L and 2.4L engines
Alternator Belt

Fig. Loosen the adjuster lock bolt . . .

Fig. . . . then remove the alternator belt from the engine

1. Loosen the alternator support nut.
2. Loosen the adjuster lock bolt.
3. Rotate the adjuster bolt counter clockwise to release the tension on the belt.
4. Remove the belt.

To install:

1. Install the belt on the pulleys.
2. Rotate the adjuster bolt clockwise until the proper tension is reached.
3. Tighten the adjuster lock bolt and the alternator support nut.

POWER STEERING BELT

Fig. After the adjusting and fixed bolts are loosened, rotate the pump . . .

Fig. . . . then remove the power steering belt from the engine

1. Remove the alternator belt as described above.
2. Loosen the power steering pump adjusting bolts.
3. Remove the power steering pump fixed bolt on the rear of the bracket.
4. Rotate the pump toward the engine and remove the belt.

To install:

1. Install the belt on the pulleys.
2. Rotate the pump until the proper tension is reached.
3. Tighten the adjusting bolts on the pump.
4. Tighten the fixed bolt on the rear of the bracket.
5. Install the alternator belt.

A/C COMPRESSOR BELT

1. Loosen the tension pulley and remove the belt.
2. The installation is the reverse of the removal.

3.0L DOHC, 3.0L SOHC Galant, and 3.5L Engines

Fig. Serpentine belt routing-Mitsubishi 3.0L engines (except 1998-00 Galant models)

Fig. Accessory V-belt routing-Mitsubishi 3.5L and 1998-00 3.0L SOHC Galant engines
ALTERNATOR AND A/C COMPRESSOR

1. Disconnect the negative battery cable.

CAUTION Wait at least 90 seconds after the negative battery cable is disconnected to prevent possible deployment of the air bag.

1. Raise and safely support the vehicle and remove the front undercover.
2. Loosen the tension pulley fixing nut and relieve the tension on the belt by turning the adjusting bolt.
3. Remove the belt.

To install:

1. Install the belt on the crankshaft and alternator pulleys.
2. Using the adjusting bolt on the tensioner, tighten the belt to the desired tension.
3. Tighten the fixing nut to hold the adjustment.
4. Install the undercover and lower the vehicle to the floor.
5. Connect the negative battery cable.

POWER STEERING BELT

1. Disconnect the negative battery cable.

CAUTION Wait at least 90 seconds after the negative battery cable is disconnected to prevent possible deployment of the air bag.

1. Raise and safely support the vehicle and remove the undercover.
2. Remove the alternator and A/C compressor belt.
3. Lower the vehicle and remove the cruise control pump link assembly.
4. Place the power steering hose under the oil reservoir.
5. Loosen the tension pulley fixing bolts and remove the power steering pump drive belt.

To install:

1. Install the power steering pump drive belt.
2. Insert an extension bar or equivalent into the opening at the end of the tension pulley bracket and pivot the pulley to apply tension to the belt.
3. Tighten the fixing bolts.
4. Raise the vehicle and install the alternator and A/C compressor belt.
5. Install the undercover and lower the vehicle.
6. Connect the negative battery cable.

3.0L SOHC Diamante

1. Disconnect the negative battery cable.
2. Loosen the lockbolt on the face of the A/C tensioner pulley.
3. Turn the adjusting bolt of the A/C tensioner pulley to loosen the tension of the A/C belt.
4. Remove the A/C compressor belt.
5. Loosen the locknut on the face of the power steering/alternator tensioner pulley.
6. Turn the adjusting bolt of the tensioner pulley to loosen the tension of the belt.
7. Remove the power steering/alternator belt.

To install:

1. Install the power steering/alternator belt first and then the A/C compressor drive belt.
2. Adjust the belts to the proper tension by turning the adjusting bolts and tighten pulley fixing nut/bolt.
3. Tighten the mounting nut of the power steering/alternator tensioner pulley to 36 ft. lbs. (50 Nm).

Place the drain pan under the radiator drain plug, open the plug and allow it to drain. Close the plug. Loosen the four nuts on the water pump pulley but do not remove them yet. Loosen the adjusting bolts in the alternator and the power steering pump with a wrench, push them away from the belts and remove the belts.

2Remove the bolts securing the fan shroud to the radiator support using a 10 mm socket. Remove the four nuts on the water pump pulley, then remove the fan and shroud as an assembly. Remove the bolts in the crankshaft pulley using a socket. Loosen and remove the crankshaft bolt using a socket.

• 3
  

Remove the top radiator hose. Extract all the 10 mm bolts securing the top and bottom timing covers and remove the covers.

4Install the crankshaft bolt temporarily. Use a socket on the bolt and turn the crankshaft clockwise until the mark on the crankshaft sprocket aligns with the timing mark on the block at the 12 o'clock position. Look at the camshaft sprockets and make sure the left sprocket has the "I" facing straight up and the right sprocket has the "E" facing up. At the same time, notice that there is a line on each sprocket adjacent to each mark--make sure they line up with the notch on the cylinder head at 12 o'clock. This allows for perfect alignment. If they do not come close to aligning, rotate the crankshaft one more time and they will align.

5Loosen the tensioner bolt and push the tensioner away from the belt. Loosely tighten the bolt to maintain position. Remove the belt.

6Install the new belt starting on the right side away from the tensioner. Keep all the tension on the right side. Loosen the tensioner bolt and allow it to apply tension on the belt. Do not tighten the bolt yet. Rotate the engine two turns clockwise and re-align the timing marks. Tighten the tensioner bolt to 35 foot-pounds.

7Install the timing belt covers. Remove the crankshaft bolt and install the crankshaft pulley. Reinstall the bolt and tighten. Install the radiator shroud and fan as an assembly. Place the fan on the water pump pulley, install the four nuts loosely, install the bolts in the fan shroud and tighten.

8Install the belts around the crank pulley, water pump pulley and alternator and pull the alternator up to tension the belt and tighten the bolts using a socket. Tighten the water pump pulley nuts using a wrench.

9Install the belt on the power steering pump, pull the pump out to tension the belt and tighten the bolts. Install the upper radiator hose. Fill the radiator with antifreeze

Locate the two belts on the left side (passenger side) of your Mitsubishi Lancer. The outer belt is a serpentine belt, operating four pulleys and the inner belt is your alternator belt.

2 Follow the serpentine (outer) belt to the three pulleys lined up vertically near the front of the engine compartment. Locate the middle pulley, which is the tension pulley for the belt.

3 Loosen the bolt on the middle pulley with a socket wrench by turning counter-clockwise. Do not remove the bolt, just turn it a couple of times. Loosen the tensioner bolt on the side of the of the pulley, facing the front of the vehicle.

4 Remove the serpentine belt and then loosen the bolt on the alternator. With the alternator loose, move it forward so that the alternator belt loosens up and then remove belt from the pulleys.

5 Install the new alternator belt by placing it over both inside pulleys. Tighten the tension on the alternator belt by moving the alternator back and keeping tension on it by holding it back with a long screwdriver. While the alternator belt is tight, use a socket wrench to tighten up the bolt on the alternator.

6 Place the serpentine belt back on the pulleys and then use a socket wrench on the bolt on the front of the tension pulley. Once the serpentine belt is tight, tighten up the bolt in the middle of the tension pulley.

7 Start the Mitsubishi Lancer's engine to test the alternator belt and make sure it is working properly. Once you have verified it is working, turn the engine off.

hi there, here is what i have found for you, i hope it helps:

Look at where the drive belts are located on your Mitsubishi Galant. Depending on models, you may need to jack up the vehicle to access the bolts for the belts.

Find the bolt assembly for the belt. This bolt structure will be on or near the main component that the belt serves. Look at all of the pulleys around which the belt winds, and you will find a bolt system to adjust tension. For an alternator belt, the bolt system is by the alternator. For a power steering belt, look near the power steering pump.

Find the lock nut that holds the long adjustment bolt in place and use your wrench to loosen it. This is the bolt the loosens the belt tension so that you can remove it.

Turn the adjustment bolt. Turning the adjustment bolt moves the component either toward the engine in order to loosen belt tension, or away from the engine in order to tighten belt tension.

Slip off the old belt and install the new one, once the belt tension is released. Make sure the belt is correctly seated on all pulleys.

Turn the adjustment bolt the other way to bring the component away from the engine and add belt tension. Test the belt for correct tension by pressing on it and checking deflection.

Tighten the adjustment lock bolt and the pivot bolt, when the belt has the right tension.

cheers

iain

The idler belt can be loosed out on the main pulley circuit which allows the belt to be pushed into the slot and then the idler can be pulled up to be tightened to the desired tension.

TO LOOSEN THE BELT TENSIONER PULLEY ASSEMBLY, THEN POSITION A CAMSHAFT BELT ADJUSTER TOOL T74P-6254-A OR EQUIVALENT ON THE TENSION SPRING ROLL PIN AND RETRACT THE BELT TENSIONER AWAY FROM THE TIMING BELT.TIGHTEN THE ADJUSTMENT BOLT TO LOCK THE TENSIONER IN THE RETRACTED POSITION. INSTALL NEW TIMING OVER THE CRANKSHAFT SPROCKET AND THEN COUNTERCLOCKWISE OVER THE AUXILIARY AND CAMSHAFT SPROCKETS MAKING SURE THE LUGS ON THE BELT PROPERLY ENGAGE THE SPROCKET TEETH ON THE PULLEYS. BECAREFUL NOT TO ROTATE THE PULLEYS WHEN INSTALLING THE BELT.RELEASE THE TIMING BELT TENSIONER PULLEY ALLOWING THE TENSIONER TO TAKE UP THE SLACK. IF THE SPRING DOES NOT HAVE ENOUGH TENSION TO MOVE THE ROLLER AGAINST THE BELT.AND BELT HANGS LOOSE, IT MIGHT BE NECESSARY TO MANUALLY PUSH THE ROLLER AGAINST THE BELT AND TIGHTEN THE BOLT. YOU WILL NEED BELT TENSIONER TOOL OR EQUIVALENT.YOU CAN GO ON LINE INTERNET FIND THE BELT TENSIONER TOOL.SHOULD COST TOO MUCH.YOU CAN SEE IF AUTO ZONE HAS ONE TO RENT YOU.

Locate the two belts on the left side (passenger side) of your Mitsubishi Lancer. The outer belt is a serpentine belt, operating four pulleys and the inner belt is your alternator belt.

2

Follow the serpentine (outer) belt to the three pulleys lined up vertically near the front of the engine compartment. Locate the middle pulley, which is the tension pulley for the belt.

3

Loosen the bolt on the middle pulley with a socket wrench by turning counter-clockwise. Do not remove the bolt, just turn it a couple of times. Loosen the tensioner bolt on the side of the of the pulley, facing the front of the vehicle.

4

Remove the serpentine belt and then loosen the bolt on the alternator. With the alternator loose, move it forward so that the alternator belt loosens up and then remove belt from the pulleys.

5

Install the new alternator belt by placing it over both inside pulleys. Tighten the tension on the alternator belt by moving the alternator back and keeping tension on it by holding it back with a long screwdriver. While the alternator belt is tight, use a socket wrench to tighten up the bolt on the alternator.

6

Place the serpentine belt back on the pulleys and then use a socket wrench on the bolt on the front of the tension pulley. Once the serpentine belt is tight, tighten up the bolt in the middle of the tension pulley.

7

Start the Mitsubishi Lancer's engine to test the alternator belt and make sure it is working properly. Once you have verified it is working, turn the engine off.

Timing Belt Removal & Installation SOHC To Remove:

1. Disconnect battery negative cable.
2. Remove fresh air duct.
3. Drain engine coolant into an appropriate container and retighten radiator drain plug.
4. Remove upper radiator hose.
5. Remove fan clutch assembly bolts.
6. Remove 5 cooling fan shroud bolts.
7. Remove fan shroud and fan as an assembly.
8. Loosen alternator mounting bolts and remove drive belt from pulley.
9. Remove fan pulley.
10. Remove 4 cooling fan assembly bolts.
11. Remove cooling fan assembly.
12. Remove 4 bolts and upper timing belt cover.
13. Remove 2 lower bolts and lower timing belt cover.
14. Loosen adjusting bolt and remove A/C belt.
15. Remove alternator belt.
16. Loosen power steering pump lock bolt and mounting bolt.
17. Remove drive belt from crankshaft damper. Camshaft timing marks
    
    
18. Turn crankshaft until timing mark on front housing and the arrow "2" on the camshaft pulley align.
19. Remove 5 bolts and remove damper.
20. Remove timing belt guide from timing belt pulley.
21. Loosen tensioner lock bolt.
22. Pry tensioner away from timing belt and tighten lock bolt to relieve tension on the timing belt. NOTE: Mark the direction of timing belt rotation on the belt if it is being reused.
    
23. Remove timing belt.

To Install:
Timing belt pulley timing marks

NOTE: Timing belt pulley timing mark and timing mark must be aligned.
Camshaft timing marks

NOTE: The arrow at "2" on camshaft pulley must be aligned with timing mark on front housing.
Timing belt installation

1. Install timing belt with minimal slack from timing belt pulley to water pump and from water pump to camshaft pulley.
2. Loosen tensioner lock bolt until tension is applied to timing belt. CAUTION
   Do not turn crankshaft counterclockwise.
   
3. Turn crankshaft pulley 2 full turns clockwise and ensure timing marks are properly aligned.
4. Tighten tensioner lock bolt to 33 ft lb (45 Nm).
5. Apply a force of 21 lb to timing belt midway between idler pulley and camshaft pulley.
   • Deflection should measure 0.43-0.51 inch (11-13 mm)
   NOTE: if timing belt deflection is incorrect remove timing belt and install NEW tensioner spring.
   
6. Install timing belt guide.
7. Install crankshaft damper pulley.
8. Install 5 crankshaft damper pulley bolts. Tighten bolts to 132 in lb (15 Nm).
9. Install power steering pump drive belt.
10. Adjust power steering pump drive belt tension and tighten lock bolt and mounting bolt.
11. Install alternator drive belt.
12. Install A/C drive belt.
13. Install lower timing belt cover and bolts. Tighten bolts to 84 in lb (10 Nm).
14. Install upper timing belt cover and bolts. Tighten bolts to 84 in lb (10 Nm).
15. Install cooling fan assembly and 4 bolts. Tighten bolts to 27 ft lb (37 Nm).
16. Install fan pulley.
17. Install fan clutch and shroud as an assembly. Tighten bolts to 74 in lb (8 Nm).
18. Tighten 4 cooling fan nuts to 16 ft lb (22 Nm).
19. Adjust alternator belt tension and tighten alternator mounting bolts.
20. Install upper radiator hose.
21. Install fresh air duct.
22. Connect battery negative cable.
23. Refill/bleed cooling system.

DOHC To Remove:

1. Disconnect battery negative cable.
2. Remove fresh air duct.
3. Remove 5 cooling fan shroud bolts and 4 thermo-modulated fan nuts.
4. Remove 4 thermo-modulated fan shroud fasteners.
5. Remove generator drive belt.
6. Remove fan pulley (located above crankshaft pulley).
7. Remove 4 bolts and splash shield (located under front of vehicle).
8. Remove A/C drive belt and power steering drive belt. Timing Belt Removal
   
   
9. Remove 5 bolts and upper timing belt cover.
10. Remove 2 bolts and lower timing belt cover.
11. Loosen tensioner lock bolt and pivot tensioner pulley outboard.
12. Retighten tensioner lock bolt. NOTE: Mark timing belt for rotation if it is being reused.
    
13. Remove timing belt.

To Install:
Crankshaft match marks

1. Align marks on timing belt pulley and pump body. Camshaft pulley alignment marks
   
   
2. Align marks on camshaft pulleys with alignment marks on seal plate.
3. Install timing belt. NOTE: No looseness should exist on the tension side and at the camshaft pulleys.
   
4. Loosen tensioner lock bolt.
5. Turn crankshaft 2 revolutions in direction of rotation and check that timing marks are still in alignment.
6. Tighten timing belt tension lock bolt to 27-38 ft lb (32-52 Nm).
7. Apply a force of 22 lbs to timing belt between camshaft sprockets.
   • Belt deflection should measure 0.30-0.33 in (7.5-8.5 mm)
   NOTE: Replace tensioner spring if timing belt deflection is excessive.
   Timing Belt Installation
   
   
8. Install lower timing belt cover.
9. Install upper timing belt cover.
10. Install power steering drive belt and adjust belt tension.
11. Install fan pulley.
12. Install generator drive belt and adjust belt tension.
13. Install A/C drive belt and adjust belt tension.
14. Install splash guard.
15. Install fan and fan shroud.
16. Install 4 fan bolts. Tighten to 24 ft lb (33 Nm).
17. Install fan shroud mounting bolts.
18. Install fresh air duct.
19. Connect hose to resonance chamber.
20. Connect battery negative cable.

hELLO THERE:
NO YOU DO NOT WANT TO LOOSEN THIS BOLT LOOK FOR THE SMALL SQUARE HOLE THAT A SOCKET EXTENSION FITS INTO THIS IS THE HOLE THAT YOU ARE WANTING TO USE AND THEN PUSH IT OVER TO THE DRIVERS SIDE TO MAKE THE TENSIONER LOOSEN THE TENSION ON THE BELT SO YOU CAN REMOVE IT OK

there is a nut on the idler pulley under alternator loosen this then there is a bolt above pulley tighten this then tighten nut on pulley you should be good to go