Is there a trick to slipping this thing on?
I did it two years ago in a parts store parking lot, but for the life of me I can't recall doing anything special.
And I'm going nuts trying to figure out how I did it then, but can't get it done in my driveway...

The belt is 81.5", but with the tensioner fully rotated, it still isn't enough to slip over the power steering pulley.

Open to any suggestions, thanks guys.

Drew

_________________
Pontiac stable:
2005 Bonneville GXP - Black -daily driver
2004 Sunfire - Arrival Blue Metallic -Wife's
1998 Grand Prix GT - Black -seen better days, awaiting fate
1985 Fiero Sport Coupe - Black (mostly) - long term rebuild

None that I'm aware of. Are you sure you're getting the tensioner fully unsprung. A newer belt will be tighter, but should be within a reasonable tolerance. Makes me wonder if you have the belt fully seated properly in other pulleys.

Usually on tight vehicles, I try to do the hard access pulleys (like the crank harmonic balancer for example) before I even have to hold the tensioner, this way, once you snake it up, all you have to do is get it over more easy to access pulleys, or backside idlers where it'll just slip on.

_________________


Retired Bonneville Owner and former GM Tech:
2004 Pontiac Bonneville GXP: Black/Ebony *SOLD*

Summer Toys: Combined 827 RWHP / 877lb/ft RWTQ
2004 Pontiac GTO: Impulse Blue Metallic/Black/M6: lots 'o mods, 415 RWHP / 405lb/ft RWTQ!
2006 Cadillac STS-V: Light Platinum Metallic/Light Gray/A6 - Spectre CAI, Magnaflow exhaust, Speed Inc. tune, 412 RWHP / 472lb/ft RWTQ

Daily Drivers:
2019 Chrysler Pacifica Limited: Mommy's new RGC
2015 Chrysler Town & Country Limited Platinum: Kids new RGC
2007 Chrysler Town & Country Limited: Sold to neighbor
2009 Pontiac G8 GT: L76, Sport Red Metallic
2003 Chevrolet Suburban 2500: Doeskin Tan - 8.1L Big Block... new plow truck
1999 Chevrolet Suburban: Sunset Gold Metallic - Daddy's winter beater and plow truck

I'll go back and recheck the seating.
I did try to slip it over the smooth idler instead of trying to get over the P/S pulley lip, but that wasn't any better.

I just noticed that the routing I'm using from google, since it doesn't seem to be under my hood, is from an Aurora forum. It's still the same routing, isn't it?

Drew

_________________
Pontiac stable:
2005 Bonneville GXP - Black -daily driver
2004 Sunfire - Arrival Blue Metallic -Wife's
1998 Grand Prix GT - Black -seen better days, awaiting fate
1985 Fiero Sport Coupe - Black (mostly) - long term rebuild

Are you sure you have the right belt? My GM dealer showed two different ones for the GXP. That was several years ago now and I'm not sure what the difference was. They were not referring to the water pump belt, this was two different main serpentine belts.

I ended up getting the part number off the old one to make sure it was correct. They couldn't narrow it down with my VIN for some reason.

_________________


Bose Luxury Sound System w/Touch Screen Navigation, Addition of Factory XM, 2005 MY Antenna, OnStar Upgrade (3G),
RainSense Wipers, Backup Camera, '00 Style Door Panel Courtesy Lights, Heated Washer Solvent, 2X Remote Trunk Release,
Turn Signal Mirrors, Center Console Courtesy Lamp, Rear Outboard Heated Seats, PVD Chrome 18" Factory Rims, Upgraded
Carbon Fibre Appearance Interior Trim, Highly Modified Main Body Harness, Instrument Panel, Door, Door Panel & Headliner
Wiring Harnesses, Custom Fuse Box & Tire and Loading Information Decals, Additional Acoustic Insulation

The routing may be in the Owner's Manual. I can't recall, but it is for one of my cars.

_________________


Bose Luxury Sound System w/Touch Screen Navigation, Addition of Factory XM, 2005 MY Antenna, OnStar Upgrade (3G),
RainSense Wipers, Backup Camera, '00 Style Door Panel Courtesy Lights, Heated Washer Solvent, 2X Remote Trunk Release,
Turn Signal Mirrors, Center Console Courtesy Lamp, Rear Outboard Heated Seats, PVD Chrome 18" Factory Rims, Upgraded
Carbon Fibre Appearance Interior Trim, Highly Modified Main Body Harness, Instrument Panel, Door, Door Panel & Headliner
Wiring Harnesses, Custom Fuse Box & Tire and Loading Information Decals, Additional Acoustic Insulation

This is the diagram I'm using



Drew

_________________
Pontiac stable:
2005 Bonneville GXP - Black -daily driver
2004 Sunfire - Arrival Blue Metallic -Wife's
1998 Grand Prix GT - Black -seen better days, awaiting fate
1985 Fiero Sport Coupe - Black (mostly) - long term rebuild

That looks to be right from what I see. The water pump belt couldn't be mixed up, it is very small and only 3-ribs I believe. Are you getting it around pulley 1 properly. It has to go on from behind the pulley

Part# I come up with: 12575425

For reference, the water pump belt is: 12588412

_________________


Retired Bonneville Owner and former GM Tech:
2004 Pontiac Bonneville GXP: Black/Ebony *SOLD*

Summer Toys: Combined 827 RWHP / 877lb/ft RWTQ
2004 Pontiac GTO: Impulse Blue Metallic/Black/M6: lots 'o mods, 415 RWHP / 405lb/ft RWTQ!
2006 Cadillac STS-V: Light Platinum Metallic/Light Gray/A6 - Spectre CAI, Magnaflow exhaust, Speed Inc. tune, 412 RWHP / 472lb/ft RWTQ

Daily Drivers:
2019 Chrysler Pacifica Limited: Mommy's new RGC
2015 Chrysler Town & Country Limited Platinum: Kids new RGC
2007 Chrysler Town & Country Limited: Sold to neighbor
2009 Pontiac G8 GT: L76, Sport Red Metallic
2003 Chevrolet Suburban 2500: Doeskin Tan - 8.1L Big Block... new plow truck
1999 Chevrolet Suburban: Sunset Gold Metallic - Daddy's winter beater and plow truck

I didn't feel they could be confused, but with two belts listed and two on the car, I just wanted to make sure I mentioned it so there was no chance of thinking that may have been the case. I had no problem replacing mine, quick and straightforward. It still makes me wonder if their cross reference is correct. I have zero faith in parts stores. I assume this is where he sourced it based on having replaced one in their parking lot previously.

_________________


Bose Luxury Sound System w/Touch Screen Navigation, Addition of Factory XM, 2005 MY Antenna, OnStar Upgrade (3G),
RainSense Wipers, Backup Camera, '00 Style Door Panel Courtesy Lights, Heated Washer Solvent, 2X Remote Trunk Release,
Turn Signal Mirrors, Center Console Courtesy Lamp, Rear Outboard Heated Seats, PVD Chrome 18" Factory Rims, Upgraded
Carbon Fibre Appearance Interior Trim, Highly Modified Main Body Harness, Instrument Panel, Door, Door Panel & Headliner
Wiring Harnesses, Custom Fuse Box & Tire and Loading Information Decals, Additional Acoustic Insulation

Agree

_________________


Retired Bonneville Owner and former GM Tech:
2004 Pontiac Bonneville GXP: Black/Ebony *SOLD*

Summer Toys: Combined 827 RWHP / 877lb/ft RWTQ
2004 Pontiac GTO: Impulse Blue Metallic/Black/M6: lots 'o mods, 415 RWHP / 405lb/ft RWTQ!
2006 Cadillac STS-V: Light Platinum Metallic/Light Gray/A6 - Spectre CAI, Magnaflow exhaust, Speed Inc. tune, 412 RWHP / 472lb/ft RWTQ

Daily Drivers:
2019 Chrysler Pacifica Limited: Mommy's new RGC
2015 Chrysler Town & Country Limited Platinum: Kids new RGC
2007 Chrysler Town & Country Limited: Sold to neighbor
2009 Pontiac G8 GT: L76, Sport Red Metallic
2003 Chevrolet Suburban 2500: Doeskin Tan - 8.1L Big Block... new plow truck
1999 Chevrolet Suburban: Sunset Gold Metallic - Daddy's winter beater and plow truck

I recently replaced my power steering pump and getting the belt
back on was difficult for some reason. There was very little slack
with the tensioner all the way depressed. I asked my son to help
me because I needed three hands.

I could see that a new belt would give you trouble. If it is not seated
perfect on every pulley, or an off-brand belt, you may need a second
person to help you.

_________________
Black 95 SSEi (original owner) 238K miles
Black 05 GXP (some idiot put the first 12K on it)186K miles
Black 04 Tahoe (original owner)310K miles
Black 16 Traverse (original owner)90K miles
Black 15 Lacrosse (some nice lady put first 15K on it)43K miles


"You can have one in any color as long as it's black" - H. Ford

My belt is also P/N 12575425 and is 2070mm long. The length in mm should be marked on the one you purchased.

_________________


Bose Luxury Sound System w/Touch Screen Navigation, Addition of Factory XM, 2005 MY Antenna, OnStar Upgrade (3G),
RainSense Wipers, Backup Camera, '00 Style Door Panel Courtesy Lights, Heated Washer Solvent, 2X Remote Trunk Release,
Turn Signal Mirrors, Center Console Courtesy Lamp, Rear Outboard Heated Seats, PVD Chrome 18" Factory Rims, Upgraded
Carbon Fibre Appearance Interior Trim, Highly Modified Main Body Harness, Instrument Panel, Door, Door Panel & Headliner
Wiring Harnesses, Custom Fuse Box & Tire and Loading Information Decals, Additional Acoustic Insulation

Apologies for disappearing for over a month guys, between work and a new baby at home, life has been nuts.

I did finally get my belt on, some serious pressure on the tensioner was required to make it happen, but with some stretching it worked.

It was sourced from a parts store, because it's where I work. However this was a brand new belt because I didn't replace it when changing the alternator the last time (I know, not my best decision)


Anyway, as always, thanks for the help gents.

Drew

_________________
Pontiac stable:
2005 Bonneville GXP - Black -daily driver
2004 Sunfire - Arrival Blue Metallic -Wife's
1998 Grand Prix GT - Black -seen better days, awaiting fate
1985 Fiero Sport Coupe - Black (mostly) - long term rebuild