How to Replace Serpentine Belt 96-99 Buick LeSabre

Difficulty: Intermediate · About 40 min · Buick Lesabre

Replace the serpentine belt, including freeing the motor mount stud for access, on a 1996-1999 Buick LeSabre.

Steps

1. Remove the wheel

   Pry off the center cap, loosen the lug nuts with the car on the ground, raise and support the car, then remove the lug nuts and wheel.

2. Remove the motor mount stud

   Support the engine with a jack and a block of wood, remove the splash shield's three plastic rivets and pull it aside, then remove the 18mm nut and stud from the motor mount along with its sleeve.

3. Remove the serpentine belt

   Attach a 15mm socket and ratchet to the belt tensioner, turn it to release tension, then pull the belt off the alternator pulley and the rest of the pulleys and out.

4. Install the new belt

   Loop the belt around the A/C compressor, crankshaft, water pump, idler and power steering pulleys, attach the 15mm socket and ratchet to the tensioner, turn it to make room, pull the belt onto the alternator pulley, slowly release the tensioner, then check that the routing matches the diagram.

5. Reinstall the motor mount stud

   Slide the sleeve back into place, start and tighten the motor mount stud and nut, refit the splash shield and its three rivets, then lower the jack supporting the engine.

6. Reattach the wheel

   Slide the wheel on, start the lug nuts by hand, lower the car, torque the lug nuts to the manufacturer's specification in a star pattern, then refit the center cap.

Check your vehicle’s repair manual for exact specifications and fit.