The access on the 2.3L via the wheel well or the top does not allow my usual (non ratcheting) serpentine belt tool to swing enough.

Are there any known good tools or techniques that help getting belts on and off?

 

I ended up cutting down my normal tool. If you are looking for a ratcheting option, Harbor Freight sells a 1/4 x 3/8 slim long handled ratchet that also works well.

 

I ended up using an adjustable wrench via wheel well, and used a large C-clamp against subframe to turn it. Worked pretty good, but it's like a live grenade if it slips off!

Having been through that, I think extra long flex head ratchets are the safest way to go.

 

I used a ratchet wrench and a second closed ended wrench from the wheel well.

 

Yeah, that's what I did. I have a tool that I used on another car, but doesn't fit the CX-7. Had to change the belt on the side of the road and ended up just using two wrenches, one on the tensioner and the other linked onto the end of it. It's so tight in there I can't see a better option, going from the top of the engine.

 

Does anyone know if the serpentine belt tensioner has a feature so that it can be locked in the released position?

I'm looking for the trick to get the serpentine belt back on. I need a way to do this with just one person and I've run out of ideas. If I access the tensioner from underneath the car then I can't reach up and put the belt on once I have the tensioner rotated. This is complicated by the fact that I need to use one arm to hold the pressure from the tensioner.
Accessing the tensioner from the top puts the motor mount in the way so can't get enough swing on my ratchet wrench.
I'm wondering if there's a way to lock the tensioner in the released position with a pin or screwdriver, put the belt on, then put torque back on the tensioner and release the locking pin.

 

I've got the tensioner pulley rotated as far as possible to the released position and I tied off the wrench with a rope to hold it there. I'm still unable to get the belt to fit. I have a K060905 belt which is 90-7/8" long.

My technique is to put the belt over all the v-grooved pulleys and then try to force the belt under the idler pulley. That's just not working. It seems like I need another 1/2" of belt.

I just ordered a K060905A belt that is 91-3/16" long. That gives me another 5/16" of belt length so I hope it will fit.

 

No locking system that I've ever seen.

 

Thanks. I'd never seen a pin-lock on a tensioner either. But most tensioners are easier to get to. I just thought that if I could lock it in place then I could put the belt on easy from top side. Then go back under the car and remove the locking pin after the belt is installed.
I have a wrench on the tensioner now and rope that ties the wrench in position so the tensioner is fully rotated to the slack position. I'm still not able to get the belt to fit. I hope the 91-3/16" belt works.

 

I was able to cut down a cheap 14mm socket, and weld it onto a pipe which was enough to get it on. I was able to double up 2 spanners and with a friend turning the crankshaft pulley with a breaker bar, while use a screwdriver to pull the belt on.