How to Install a Belt on a Chevy Silverado 2007

The belt replacement process for the 2002 through 2007 Chevrolet Silverado model trucks remains the same. The serpentine belt is the single belt that operates all the engine accessory pulleys at once. The crankshaft pulley is the main pulley that drives the serpentine belt around all of the pulleys so that each accessory can perform its required function. The belt tensioner must be turned to release the tension from the belt. Once the tension is off the belt, the belt can be removed and replaced.

Instructions

1

Park the 2007 Chevrolet Silverado in a safe working area. Ensure that the surface is level. Turn the motor off and engage the parking brake. Pull the hood latch to open the hood. Raise the hood and allow the engine to cool for about an hour before working inside of the engine compartment.

2

Inspect the top of the radiator shroud and locate the sticker of the serpentine belt routing diagram that is stamped to the top of the plastic radiator shroud. Use the routing directions from this diagram when routing the new belt around the pulleys.

3

Locate the air intake housing on the top driver's side of the engine. Remove the air intake tube from the housing by loosening the clamp screws from both ends of the tube. One end of the tube connects to the air intake housing and the other end of the tube connects to the throttle body housing. Once the clamp screws are loosened, pull each end of the air intake tube off the throttle body and the air intake housing. Position the air intake tube out of the way. The serpentine belt tensioner can now be accessed on the top front of the engine.

4

Locate the serpentine belt tensioner on the top-center of the engine. The tensioner is a spring-loaded arm with a pulley attached to it. Use the bolt head in the middle of the tensioner pulley to rotate the tensioner. Turn the tensioner clockwise with a breaker bar and a 15 mm socket, using one hand. Reach down with the other hand and slip the belt off the tensioner pulley. Release the tensioner and remove the breaker bar and socket from the tensioner pulley bolt head.

5

Slide the belt out of each accessory pulley. Use your hands to pull the belt around each fan blade by positioning each fan blade to the top side of the engine. Pull the belt out of the engine compartment and compare it to the new belt to ensure the correct size of the new belt.

6

Slide the new belt around each fan blade by positioning each fan blade to the top side of the engine again. Reach down and wrap the new belt around the crankshaft pulley first. Route the new belt around the other accessory pulleys, as instructed by the serpentine belt routing diagram. Let the belt tensioner pulley be the last pulley you route the belt around.

7

Turn the belt tensioner clockwise with the breaker bar and the 15 mm socket, again using one hand. Use the other hand to slide the belt around the tensioner pulley. Ensure that the belt is centered under the tensioner pulley and that the belt is seated inside each accessory pulley.

8

Crank the engine for about 30 seconds. Inspect the belt to ensure that it stays seated inside each pulley while the engine is running. Turn the engine off and shut the hood. Reattach the air intake tube to the throttle body housing and the air intake housing. Tighten the clamp screws with the flat-head screwdriver until they are tight enough to secure each end of the tube to the throttle body and the air intake housing.