I know I beat on my car a little bit (only a little, I swear, and that'* because it'* not "mine" ie I don't pay the insurance), but my SC belt slipped off and got shredded last weekend driving in Grand Rapids. I can't find anything wrong with any of the pulleys, nothing feels or looks wrong. Only thing I can think of is the tension was too loose, or I was just too hard on it... but that shouldn't be a factor

I didn't look at the tensioner yet. Manual or spring loaded? I've got a new belt and I'm ready to take the motor mount off to install it, but I want to make sure I get the tension right, if that'* riding on my shoulders. If it'* nothing to worry about, then woohoo I'll have my power back in no time.

Thanks
-rix

It'* spring loaded with no adjustment. Your belt probably just failed due to wear or defect.

Whooohooo I'm beating the other Bill to this one.

Please put your year and level of trim in your signature.

We are assuming you are taking the motor mount off because you are a series 2. Check the tensioner...it might feel like the bearings are bad. It happens. If so change both the belt and tensioner at the same time. New tensioner probably runs about $15 bucks.

Bill J/K on that one...please...please...don't ban me...pretty please...

and

Hmm, tensioner bearing doesn't feel bad. Trying to find a price on a replacement tensioner as we speak, but having no luck for the supercharger one so far... A bit pricey for the main belt tensioners!

On a side note, there'* now some oily residue on my pulleys, and it looks as though something got leaked and sprayed around the belt area. Interesting development. Will be checking for cuts in hoses late tonight. Don't think it'* an engine seal, but I do know my tappet cover gasket leaks a little... not quite the right locale for this spray, though.

Iiiinteresting...

Might want to check your power steering pump and around the nose of the SC. Could be power steering fluid or supercharger oil.

When your new belt is on, open the hood and watch it. Sometimes if the pullys aren't real bad you can see them go by moving them manually, but when reved up you may notice a tensioner shimmying or a pully wobbling.

.02

x2.... from driveway experience

Tensioner is a whole assembly, with tensioner for main drive belt and SC belt, and a couple idlers. $134 at GM dealer, $60 at aftermarket shops. Don't really want to replace it, but I will take your advice and see what it looks like with the belt on and running. No time until Friday or possibly Saturday, though.

Thanks for all the input

My 97 SSEi had a similar problem. Last week the A/C belt shredded and I lost steering, alt, etc. I had to have it towed home. When I first stopped the car at a gas station there was fliud on the ground that seemed to be power steering fluid. The belt tensioner pulley was broken. There were pieces of plastic all around it. Long story short I replaced both the PS pump and upper belt tensioner (used parts). I learned why the price is sort of high for the tensioner. It has coolant running through it, including a 90 degree PLASTIC coolant bypass tube. All in all the total cost was $200. Not bad considering I changed the oil, supercharger oil, flushed radiator and all.

When I first started the car after I was done, the belt tensioner pulley made a squealing noise. I shut it off and sprayed the pulley with WD40. It stopped. I guess my first sign of a problem should have been that I could not turn the pulley very easily by hand before I bolted it on. Now less than 10 days later the belt tensioner pulley has broken again.

Normally I would think something else is wrong, but this is just a belt tensioner. What could possibly be causing it to break. It'* as if it is burning up! There is no place to adjust it or grease it, if that would even help.

Any Ideas? I'm about to go purchase a new Belt tensioner ($67) and I'm afraid I may have this problem again down the road. I haven't really found anything in the tech forums and a search pulled up this thread.