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Posted on Dec 30, 2010
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One of the pulleys that the serpentine belt goes over has broken off. I think it may be the water pump but not sure. belt is loose. can I bypass that and use a smaller belt or is some sort of repair needed?

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  • Jeremy W.
    Jeremy W. Dec 30, 2010

    If you bypass the water pump how will the engine stay cool? It will run for about 10 to 20 minutes and then the engine will overheat and then eventually seize. The water pump is behind the pulley that the fan is attached to. If you grab the fan and you can move it around a lot than the water pump is probably bad. If not it should be pretty obvious is something else is broken or out of place.

    The serpentine belt is held tight by an automatic belt tensioner. It is the part on the passenger side of the motor.

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  • Posted on Dec 30, 2010
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You should fix the broken pulley especially if it is the water pump. If it is in fact the water pump and you bypass it, your engine will overheat and you could cause serioius damage up to needing a replacement engine.

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How to fix a leak that seems to be coming from the water pump or A/C?
No, that sounds like the water pump pulley. Loosen the 4 bolts with the serp. belt still on, then remove belt, and remove the pulley and the 4 bolts. Drain the coolant, and now you can remove and replace the water pump. It is not fixable, it must be replaced. Be sure and clean the mating surface of old gasket material and dirt, grease, etc. YouTube should have lots of videos on water pump replacement, maybe one for Aleros.
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Water leak around pully serpentine belt is loose
More than likely your water pump is going out or has gone out. Also check your idler arm and belt tensioner.
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Oct 16, 2012 • 2000 Pontiac Grand Am GT
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I want to bypass the air condition unit with serpentine belt need to know how that would effect the water pump.
The serpentine belt is meant to run everything at once. it is a tricky situation trying to bypass a pulley. If the pulley is located at the bottom of the serpentine relay, you should be able to buy a shorter belt and bypass the A/C, but make sure to incorporate the water pump or you're asking for a seized engine. It may or may not be possible. i did it on an 89 Escort, but it was simple and the A/C was located at the bottom of the serpentine cycle. The original belt was 23" and the new belt was 19". Just make sure to wrap the belt around the water pump as it probably runs your timing belt as well.
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Jun 03, 2011 • 1994 Chevrolet Beretta
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Replace water pump 1995 aurora
Water Pump REMOVAL & INSTALLATION 3.5L Engine
  1. Before servicing the vehicle, refer to the precautions in the beginning of this section.
  2. Partially drain the cooling system.
  3. Remove or disconnect the following:
    • Water pump pulley bolts, loosen but do not remove at this time
    • Drive belt
    • Idler pulley
    • Water pump pulley
    NOTE: The water pump is attached to the engine with both long and short bolts, be sure to note their locations.
    • Water pump and discard the gasket
    NOTE: Note the locations of the 5 long bolts.
  4. Clean the water pump mounting surface. Fig. 1: Be sure to install the 5 long water pump bolts in the correct locations - 3.5L engine 9300z502.gif
    Fig. 2: Water pump mounting - 3.5L engine 9300z503.gif
    To install: NOTE: Be sure to install the 5 long bolts in the proper locations.
  5. Install or connect the following:
    • Water pump using a new gasket. Torque the bolts to 124 inch lbs. (14 Nm).
    • Water pump pulley
    • Idler pulley. Torque the bolt to 37 ft. lbs. (50 Nm).
    • Drive belt
  6. Refill the cooling system.
  7. Start the engine and check for leaks.
3.8L Engines
  1. Before servicing the vehicle, refer to the precautions in the beginning of this section.
  2. Disconnect the negative battery cable.
  3. Drain the cooling system.
  4. Remove or disconnect the following:
    • Serpentine belt
    • Heater and bypass hoses from the water pump
    • Water pump pulley
    NOTE: The long bolt can be removed by aligning the bolt head with the frame rail hole.
  5. Install an engine support fixture.
  6. Remove or disconnect the following:
    • Torque axis mount
    • Water pump and discard the gasket
    To install: Fig. 3: Exploded view of the water pump and mounting bolt locations - 3.8L engines 7922xg01.gif

  7. Thoroughly clean all the sealing surfaces.
  8. Apply a thin bead of sealer around the outside edge of the water pump
  9. Install or connect the following:
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    • Water pump. Torque the inlet and outlet side bolts to 29 ft. lbs. (39 Nm) and the remaining bolts to 97 inch lbs. (11 Nm).
    • Torque axis mount
  10. Remove the support fixture.
  11. Install or connect the following:
    • Water pump pulley
    • Water pump hoses
    • Serpentine belt
    • Water pump pulley bolts. Torque the bolts to 115 inch lbs. (13 Nm).
    • Negative battery cable
  12. Refill the cooling system.
  13. Start the vehicle and check for proper operation.
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  1. Before servicing the vehicle, refer to the precautions in the beginning of this section.
  2. Disconnect the negative battery cable.
  3. Drain the cooling system.
  4. Remove or disconnect the following:
    • Air inlet duct
    • Water pump drive belt cover
    • Water pump drive belt
    • Lower radiator hose and bypass hose
    • Thermostat housing from the water pump housing
    • Water pump from the water pump housing, by turning the locking ring with a Water Pump Remover/Installer tool J-38816
    To install: Fig. 4: Exploded view of the water pump housing and water pump - 4.0L engine 7922xg02.gif

  5. Install or connect the following:
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    • Thermostat housing to the water pump housing
    • Lower radiator hose and coolant bypass hose
    • Drive belt and drive belt cover
    • Air inlet duct
    • Negative battery cable
  6. Refill and bleed the cooling system.
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Jan 24, 2011 • 1995 Oldsmobile Aurora
1helpful
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My air conditoning compressor is making a grinding noise and it hasn't worked for years. Is there a way to change the pully on the water pump and just put a new serpantine belt on to bypass the compressor?
What engine?

They make a pulley adapter to install in the place of the a/c compressor for vehicles that the a/c con not be bypassed. You local auto parts store will have them. Sometimes they cause more problems than they solve.

The best solution is to replace the compressor with a new or even a used compressor.

I’m happy to assist further over the phone at https://www.6ya.com/expert/jeremy_d728a59f986299fa

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GP with 3800 V6 keeps shedding the serpentine belt.
You have got something out of whack there, take a straight edge, like a metal ruler or framing square and line up the pulleys, try to find one that is out of whack. Wiggle the crank pulley and see if it is loose. If the belt is off, wiggle all the pulleys to see if one is loose. One of the pumps, comp, alt, etc, is either bent or has a broken bracket. Is the tensioner tight? Too tight? It should be ok if nothing squeals. Hope this helps.
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How to change serpentine belt?
Under the hood you will see a diagram that shows the routing of the belt, remember where that is you will need to refer to it! Now not knowing what engine you have I will attempt to help you, most engines with a serpentine belt have whats called and idler pulley this is a pulley that's only job is to put tension on the serpentine belt, it is sometimes identified in the diagram I spoke of earlier, if not look for a pulley that goes to nothing, in other words you'll see your power steering pump, your water pump. your a/c pump etc. once you identify it you need to put a wrench on it and pull or push it and you will see it relive tension on the belt and wa la you simply apply enough tension on it until the belt is loose enough to remove then you put the new belt on by lining it up on all the acesories and relieving the tension installing the belt and letting it loose so it can apply the tension! Use the diagram to make sure you have the belt on correctly. If you have any more questions just ask!
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Nov 24, 2009 • 1999 Mercury Mystique
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On a 2001 saab 93 turbo can can you bypass the ac compressor or is there a bypass pulley
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Serpentine belt in a 1995 Mercury sable



I have the same car and last night my belt slipped off. The top small pulley backed it's self out. The problem is in most cars the pulleys are reverse threaded so this wont happen, in ours not so much. The pully spins loose with the turn of the belt so it has to be tightened way down. IT's a pain. Here is a diagram I found and You need a 15mm wrench, which doesn't just come in most sets. Good Luck

The book says "Using a 15 mm socket or wrench on bolt attaching drive belt tensioner pulley, rotate drive belt tensioner clockwise. Make sure spring keeper engages into slot." I would put a socket on the 15 mm pulley bolt and a long handle for leverage. Thats one tight spring.
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