The 1997 Buick LeSabre was equipped with a 3.8-liter V-6 that produced 205 horsepower. The 1997 LeSabre was part of the eighth generation of LeSabres, which spanned from 1992 to 1999. The tensioner on the LeSabre controls the amount of tension on the serpentine or drive belt. The drive belt powers several key engine components. A faulty tensioner can cause the belt to slip, which can cause problems with the engine, both mechanically and electronically.
Open the hood of the LeSabre. Rotate the tensioner pulley clockwise with an open-end wrench. Remove the serpentine belt from the tensioner pulley.
Turn the tensioner pulley bolt counterclockwise to remove it from the tensioner, using an open-end wrench. It is necessary to remove the pulley to access the tensioner mounting bolt.
Remove the tensioner mounting bolt with a serpentine belt tool. Attach the proper socket to the end of the tool. Turn the bolt counterclockwise to remove it from the engine. Remove the tool when you have the bolt removed halfway, and use your fingers or locking pliers to turn the bolt the rest of the way. Always grab the bolt by the head, and not the threads.
Remove the tensioner assembly from the engine horizontally. Install the new tensioner assembly onto the engine, making sure the guide pin on the tensioner lines up with the slot in the engine. Install the tensioner pulley bolt and tighten it with the serpentine belt tool. Tighten the bolt snug, and then turn the bolt 3/4-turn farther to approximate the 35 to 40 foot-pounds of torque needed for this bolt.
Install the pulley on the tensioner assembly if one was not provided. Tighten the pulley bolt by turning it counterclockwise. The tensioner will move slightly as you tighten the bolt. Use an open-end wrench to snug the bolt, then turn the bolt 3/4-turn farther.
Compress the tensioner with the open-end wrench. Install the serpentine belt onto the tensioner pulley. Inspect the belt to make sure it is aligned center on each of the engine pulleys. Compress the tensioner halfway to make adjustments to center the belt, if needed.
