Chrysler Repair: 1999 cirrus belt changing, pivot bolt, correct tension

Question
I'm trying to help my neighbor by changing the belts on her 1990 cirrus 6 cylinder. Do I have to do the power steering belt from under the car? Also do I take the top bot totally out of the altenater and loosen the bottom? Thanks.

Answer
Hi Michael,
The top bolt on the power steering pump needs to be loosened but not removed. There are two adjustment/locking bolts that are best accessed from under the car. It will help to remove the splash shield that surrounds the right front wheel inner housing. Just jack up the right wheel, remove it, then disconnect the screw-in and push-in fasteners to remove it from the fender and frame rail. That will give you better access. There is a top pivot bolt on the pump and two adjustment bolts on the bottom of the pump that need to be loosened (front and rear). There is a 1/2" square hole in the housing (just above the front lower bolt) into which you insert a ratchet to get the leverage to tighten the belt tension. The pivot bolt is tightened to 40 foot pounds, and the smaller of the adjustment bolts (rear) to 20 foot pounds and the larger (front) one to 40 foot pounds. The belt should deflect about 1/4" when pushed with 10 lbs of force midway between the pulleys.
On the alternator/AC belt you don't have to touch the alternator bolts. Loosen the bolt on the shaft of the idler pulley which is the "lock". Then turn the adjuster bolt on the pulley housing. Finally when you have the correct tension retighten the lock bolt on the pulley shaft. The correct tension is when the belt will deflect about 1/4" when you press with 10 lbs of pressure midway between two pulleys that are less than 12" apart from oneanother.
Roland