How Do I Replace the Belt on a 94 Chevy Van 350 Engine?

The 1994 Chevy vans that come equipped with the 350 engines have a serpentine belt that operates all of the engine accessories at the same time. As the belt travels around the accessory pulleys, the raised ribs on the inside of the belt travel inside the grooves on each pulley--this makes it easier for the belt to turn the accessory pulleys. When the belt wears down, as it will periodically, it needs to be replaced.

Things You'll Need

  • 3/8-inch-drive breaker bar
  • Metric socket kit
  • New belt
  • Pull the hood latch and open the hood. Locate the serpentine belt routing diagram near the hood latch, on top of the fan shroud. Refer to this diagram for the proper routing instructions when routing the new belt around the accessory pulleys.

  • Locate the automatic belt tensioner that is mounted to the front-center of the engine. The tensioner is between the alternator and the air conditioner compressor. The tensioner has a roller pulley on one end, which is mounted to the tensioner arm by a bolt. Use the head of the roller pulley bolt to turn the tensioner.

  • Turn the tensioner from the bolt head counterclockwise with the breaker bar and a socket; pull the belt out from under the roller pulley and release the tensioner.

  • Pull the belt out of each accessory pulley; turn the fan blades with your hands, until one of the fan blades is at the top of the engine. Slide the belt around the fan blade at the top of the engine. After the belt is around the first fan blade, keep turning the fan blades to the top of the engine. Slide the belt around each fan blade, then pull the belt out of the engine compartment and match it to the new belt to ensure that the new belt is the proper size.

  • Slide the new belt around each fan blade and around each accessory pulley by referring to the belt routing diagram for the proper routing method. Always start with the crankshaft pulley and end with the roller pulley that is attached to the tensioner.

  • Turn the tensioner from the roller pulley bolt head counterclockwise again with the breaker bar and socket; slide the new belt underneath the roller pulley. Release the tensioner and inspect the new belt, to ensure that it is centered under the roller pulley and that it is seated inside all of the pulleys.

  • Crank the Chevy van's engine and let it run for about 10 seconds to completely seat the new belt inside the accessory pulleys. Turn the engine off and shut the hood of the vehicle.