Okay - let the fun begin.... Make fun of me if you have to but what is the secret to twisting the tensioner to get the serpentine belt off and on. The other modern cars I've worked on just have a fitting for a 1/2 socket wrench. Please.... let me know what the secret handshake is
Just bought this truck with the small engine for economy - the hemi is great but drinks high octane. The V6 is good for daily driving. The 06 has 100k miles but is in good shape. One of the pulleys is making noise when the motor is cold and I thought I'd start with the tensioner and idler pulleys.
Thanks

 

I will move this to the 3rd gen section for you, get you some answers.

 

I think you just need the right size socket on the tensioner pulley bolt (I think I just used a breaker bar and socket on mine), then rotate clockwise until you can remove the belt.

 

On my 5.7 tensioner I just used a 3/8" drive kind of off to the side, it's not a tight fit but it works. I've done it a few times and it hasn't slipped, although it feels like it will lol

 

its either a 13mm socket or a 15mm i cant remember and you put a ratchet on your socket and spin it clockwise then the belt will loosen

 

Duh! Of course. I was over-thinking it. I thought that using the tensioner pulley bolt would over tighten it. The torque on the tensioner should prevent that. Thanks for the voice of logic.
Mike

 

I do mine with a 3/8 breaker bar also.