The Pontiac Grand Am was a staple in the maker's lineup through the 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s. The 2005 model year became the final year for the Grand Am, as its replacement, the G6, hit showrooms that same year. The 2005 Grand Am came standard with a 3.4-liter V-6 engine that produced 175 horsepower and 205 foot-pounds of torque. One large rubber belt, known as a serpentine belt, powers all of the accessories on this engine. Pontiac recommends inspection of this belt every 30,000 miles and requires replacement when cracks begin to appear.
Open the Grand Am's hood.
Place the 2-by-4-by-6-inch block of wood on the floor jack's plate. Slide the floor jack under the Grand Am's oil pan and raise the jack until it has light pressure on the oil pan. Do not apply hard pressure, as it can damage the oil pan.
Remove the two bolts securing the engine mount to the bracket on the passenger side of the engine with a ratchet and socket. Carefully lower the jack just far enough so there is a 1 inch gap between the engine mount and its bracket.
Place a ratchet and socket on the bolt in the center of the belt tensioner pulley -- the arm and pulley directly below the alternator. Turn the ratchet counterclockwise to remove the tension on the Grand Am's serpentine belt and pull the belt from all of the pulleys. Slowly let the tensioner extend until it stops and remove the ratchet and socket.
Slide the top of the serpentine belt through the small crack between the right engine mount and the mount bracket. Pull the belt out of the engine compartment.
Feed the top of the new serpentine belt through the crack between the right engine mount and the mount bracket.
Place the serpentine belt on the alternator pulley. Rotate the tensioner pulley counterclockwise, as performed in Step 3 and route the belt over all of the other pulleys according to the belt routing diagram in the engine compartment. The power steering pump pulley must be the last pulley to which the belt attaches. Allow the belt tensioner pulley to slowly rotate towards the serpentine belt until it is holding pressure on the belt, and remove the ratchet and socket.
Raise the floor jack until the right engine mount bracket meets the engine mount holes. Insert and tighten the two bolts to 96 foot-pounds with a torque wrench and socket.
Lower the floor jack and pull it from under the Grand Am. Close the hood.
