I'm sure others know this but new to me, serpentine belt replacement

[Texasgeezer]

Removed and installed my 95 E300 belt a few times this past week.

What I've learned is the belt tensioner pulley is the main focal point for ease of removal and insertion. No need to remove the fan or radiator shroud on mine.

What I do now:

1. Loosen the spring for the tensioner.

2. Pull the belt off the pulleys for power steering, alternator, AC compressor. let the belt hang loose below the engine.

3. Pull the belt up from the tensioner pulley a few inches to make slipping the belt off the pulley easier.

4. Slip the belt off that pulley and put the both layers beneath the tensioner pulley. It's easier to do this if the tensioner arm is pressed down where the dampener attaches. This will increase the clearance below the pulley. Do not put both layers to the left of that pulley. It's harder to pull through to the bottom due to clearances.

5. Grab the belt from where it comes down between the water pump pulley and the crankshaft pulley. Pull those two layers straight down and the belt will pull down from the tensioner pulley fairly easily.

6. The loose belt can be fairly easily routed between the fan blades and the radiator for removal.

For insertion:

1. Work the belt around the fan so the bottom loop is below the engine and the top loop is above the tensioner pulley.

2. Lower the end of a fairly stiff wire down between the water pump pulley and the crankshaft pulley. It should be centered/midway of where the belt will rest after installation. This will help to keep the belt centered when you pull it up.

3. Wrap the wire around the bottom belt loop leaving the bottom of the loop flat so it doesn't distort the belt when you pull it up.

4. Best if you have a helper to pull the wire from top while you watch/guide from the bottom. It's doable by one person but easier with two.

5. Pull the wire from top left of tensioner pulley while maintaining it's position midpoint to the pulley grooves of the water pump pulley and crankshaft pulley. Stop when the belt is visible and touching the tensioner pulley.

6. Position the wire so you pull the belt centered and below the tensioner pulley. Pull it far enough so you can remove the wire from the belt.

7. Form a loop in the upper belt. Then work that loop so it is in proper place on the tensioner pulley. That's it as far as difficulty.

8. Route the belt around the alternator, crankshaft, power steering, and AC compressor while maintaining proper placement on all the pulleys.

9. Install tensioner spring and put tensioner assembly back in place and bolted down.