1999 Chevy Tahoe Idler Pulley Replacement Instructions

All models of the 1999 Chevy Tahoe were offered with a 5.7-liter V-8 engine and an automatic transmission. All of the accessories attached to the 5.7-liter are driven by the crankshaft pulley with a single serpentine belt. To route the serpentine belt in a manner that would drive all of the engine accessory pulleys in the correct direction, and to help take up slack in the longest gap between pulleys, Chevy installed an idler pulley just above the water pump, on the power steering pump bracket. The most common signs of a faulty idler pulley are a squeaking noise from that area of the engine and a wobbly or excessively worn pulley.

Instructions

Removal

1

Park the vehicle and allow the engine to cool. Lift the hood and support it with the hood prop rod. Draw out a sketch of the belt routing on a piece of paper and set it aside for later use.

2

Place the 3/8-inch breaker bar into the square hole on the belt tensioner. Rotate the belt tensioner arm counterclockwise and slide the belt from around the tensioner pulley. Slowly release the belt tensioner until it rests in its natural position. Remove the belt from the engine.

3

Loosen the bolt in the center of the idler pulley. Remove the idler pulley bolt and idler pulley from the power steering bracket

Installation

4

Hold the new idler pulley in position on the power steering bracket. Place the idler pulley bolt through the center hole of the idler pulley and rotate it clockwise until hand tight. Tighten the idler pulley bolt to 37 foot-pounds with the torque wrench. Spin the idler pulley by hand to ensure it spins freely.

5

Route the belt around the crankshaft pulley and other engine accessories. Hold tension on the belt at the belt tensioner to prevent the belt from falling away from any of the pulleys. Place the breaker bar into square hole on the belt tensioner. Rotate the tensioner counterclockwise and slide the belt around the tensioner pulley. Slowly release the tensioner so that tension is properly applied to the serpentine belt.

6

Inspect the belt routing to make sure the belt is properly seated around each pulley and that there is not a twist in the belt. Shut the vehicle hood.