Many of the accessory functions of your 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier engine, such as the power steering and alternator, are driven by a serpentine belt. The belt will wear down in time and need replacement. If your a high pitched squealing sound in your engine, it often means the serpentine belt needs replacement. You can save money by replacing the serpentine belt yourself instead of taking it to a mechanic.
Locate the serpentine belt on your engine. It is the only visible belt in the engine and it wraps around several pulleys.
Take notes on the routing of the belt for when you are installing the new belt. A diagram titled “Accessory Drive Belt Routing” is located on the underside of the hood. This diagram can help you with your notes. You will find a link to the belt diagram in the Resources section (the diagram was posted for a 2003 Cavalier, but it has the same layout as the 2002).
Rotate the tensioner pulley bolt clockwise with a 15-mm wrench to release the tension in the belt. The tensioner pulley is small and located between the power steering and crankshaft pulleys. The bolt is located in the middle of the tensioner pulley.
Remove the belt from all of the pulleys and remove the wrench from the tensioner pulley bolt. The tensioner pulley will go back to its original location.
