Your Chevy S-10 pickup truck uses a serpentine belt within its engine to drive the alternator, water pump and air conditioning, among other devices. The belt is guided along a series of pulleys and held in place by a tensioner. The tensioner is loaded with a spring that applies pressure to the belt, and if the tensioner wears out, the belt will slip and many of your peripheral devices won't function properly. The good news is that you can replace the tensioner relatively easily with a just a modicum of mechanical ability.
Lift the hood and inspect the serpentine belt routing diagram that is printed on the radiator. Make special note of this diagram, as you will be using when reinstalling the serpentine belt.
Release the belt tensioner using a ratchet and socket by turning it counterclockwise. Remove the belt from the pulleys.
Remove the tensioner's mounting bolts using a ratchet and socket.
Bolt the new tensioner in place using a ratchet and socket.
Shift the tensioner back into place by turning it clockwise using a ratchet and socket. Reinstall the belt following the routing diagram on the radiator. Push the tensioner slightly forward and backward to allow it to release and automatically reset its tension.
