thanks for the help ... I've now just unbolted the PS pump and pushed it out of the way a bit which seems to be enough. Your point is well taken though and I'll be careful re pushing things too far and spilling or what have you.

cheers

well, I've tried to get at that last 'evil' bolt without removing the tensioner, but to no avail with standard tools .... the socket inevitably slips off (and for sure I don't want to mangle it). At the risk of being anal (don't want to start undoing things for fear of compounding mistakes) is the tensioner basically held on by that big 19mm nut? Do I simply remove this nut and the tensioner will come out? anything else?

cheers, guenter

Yep, remove the tensioner by removing that 19 mm bolt. You have to remove it altogether in order to inspect it anyway. The tensioner adjuster comes off with it too, and you can then inspect the threads on it. But the tensioner definately needs to be inspected. There is a procedure for inspecting it in the manual.

__________________
On the plains of hesitation bleach the bones of countless millions who at the dawn of victory, sat down to wait, and waiting -- died

Failing availability of the Snap On FLXM13, use an extension and a universal joint with tape on the joint to keep it from being too limp.

Good luck,

I have followed these steps and found them to be a huge help with my problem. But following all of these steps and driving my car for a day a loud noise just appeared coming from something connected to the serp belt, from what I've investigated its not coming from the WaterPump, or PowerSteering or anything else.. it sounds to be coming from the fan clutch (which spins very freely and seems to be okay) but I'm curious about the belt tensioner which I did not inspect, its a sqeeking noise sounding like somethings just not balanced right and is vibrating very fast. I thought I was in the clear, with a smooth waterpump removal to be slapped in the face with another problem. What should I be looking for exactly when I remove the belt tensioner?