I had a loud whining noise coming from top of my engine. I was thniking it was the alternator because thats where the sound was coming from. Well come to find out thankfully it was the tensioner pulley. I wanted to know is there a nut behind where the pulley bolts on or is it just threaded into the tensioner? I just want to get that pulley off safely wihout breaking the tensioner.

I'm not sure on the '96, but I'd expect it to be similar to the '92 and '93 SSEi, and on those years, the pulley is mounted on the tensioner with a threaded bolt and no nut. This is true for both the upper and lower tensioners.

mcs..which tensioner, SC or accessory?

In my experience on my 97, it'* simply a threaded hole like Billha mentions. Turn the oppositie way that you would to remove tension from the belt. Each time you remove belt tension you are tightening the tensioner bolt.

Bill its the accessory pulley. The funny thing is the plastic part of the pulley isnt even there, only the bearing is there and the serpentine belt never came off. I got out of work @ midninte last nite, started my car went to take off and had no power steering and also my alternator light was on. I opened my hood and the belt was squeeling and I thought my alt was seezed up so I shut the car off and got my flashlight and looked closer and saw no pulley. I was kinda happy that I dont have to spend $150 for an alternator. So you turn the bolt to the right to loosen it instead of to the left?

Opposite way that you would release tension to put a belt on. W/o having mine or a manual in front of me..that'* the best I can tell you.

Reverse thread

Cool, thanks for the help guys