Has anyone tried changing accessory belts components (engine and SC belts, idlers, tensioners) by themselves? Did you have to remove hood and front bumper? Manual only mentions radiator splash shield and air deflector removal, but I don't see how can you reach all of the components with all that in the way.

 

Removing the bumper will expose the radiator... and you won’t need to remove that.
put the hood up into maintenance mode. It should be easier for you.

 

Yeah as long as you move the hood to service mode its actually pretty straight forward.

I only struggled with the S/C belt for a bit before I figured out how to twist it sideways and slide it back into place.

 

Thanks guys for the info. So basically except engine cover I don't have to remove anything else? Regarding the hood, I didn't come across it enywhere how to put it into service mode?

 

To improve accessibility when working in the engine compartment, the bonnet can be fixed in a vertical position. Unclip the two struts and then insert an M8 / M10 bolt through the holes in the hinges which are aligned when the bonnet is vertical.

Graham

 

Thanks Graham.
That will definitely help. However, regarding tensioners specifically drive belt tensioner, manual states that you even have to raise the engine, so I guess I'll skip them heh

 

I could understand that for timing chain tensioners but not for the drive belt tensioner ............ but I've not had the SC version of the 4.2.





Graham

 

Often the main dealer has specialty manufacturer supplied tools and resources to support servicing as specified in the manual but often there are work arounds.

 

Ok, so to summarize, if I'm to change accessory drive and SC belt and it's idlers/tensioners, I have to put bonnet in vertical position by detaching struts and use 1/2" and 3/8" torque wrench? Everything else stays in place? If this is so, I'm definitely doing this alone, saving myself lot of time (lasy mechanics) and money.
Also, I have ordered from Powehouse 6% SC upper pulley so I'll install it as well. As I understand, there is special tool just for that and it makes this op much easier. But I guess there are other ways to remove pulley from SC snout..

 

In addition to putting the bonnet into the service position, remove the air inlet pipe from the air cleaners to the throttle body.

 

Lord_Eduard, I did all that as part of my valley pipe replacement weekend. Including water pump. No need to remove anything like you ask, and no need to have hood vertical, I didn't know it was possible. What I found critical due to lack of space up front, was sequence. Here's part of my earlier thread on this:
--
Water pump, belts, two tensioners and two followers. I found a certain sequence is necessary, there may be others, but this works:
-SC tensioner moved, SC belt taken off tensioner
-SC tensioner taken off, laid to the side, can't get it up at this time
-SC belt can now be removed
-ACC belt tensioner moved, ACC belt taken off tensioner
-both followers removed
-coolant pump off
-loosen ACC tensioner, ACC belt removed
-triangular bracket for SC follower (3 bolts) removed
-now SC tensioner can come up, new SC tensioner down
-ACC tensioner removed
Reverse is from the bottom and up.

--
And here are the pages you find help in the manual:

• Supercharger (18.50.15) 1823
  • Coolant Manifold - Vehicles With: Supercharger 1603
    • Cooling System Draining, Filling and Bleeding - 4.2L SC V8 - AJV8 1516
    • Supercharger Belt (18.50.08 ) 1701
      • Radiator Splash Shield (76.22.90) 3126
  • Throttle Body Elbow (19.70.28 ) 1829
    • Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) Valve (17.45.01) 1755
      • Throttle Body (19.70.04) 1636
  • Supercharger Outlet Pipe (18.50.16) 1825
    • Intake Air Resonator 1818
• Thermostat - Vehicles With: Supercharger (26.45.07) 1593
• Coolant Pump - Vehicles With: Supercharger 1612
• ?SC coolant pump? 1616
• Accessory drive picture 1680
• Accessory Drive Belt - 4.2L SC V8 - AJV8 (12.10.40)
  • Supercharger Belt (18.50.08 ) 1701
• Accessory Drive Belt Tensioner - 4.2L SC V8 - AJV8 (12.10.41) 1693
  • Radiator Splash Shield (76.22.90) 3126
• Accessory Drive Belt Idler Pulley - 4.2L SC V8 - AJV8 (12.10.43) 1698
• Supercharger Belt (18.50.08 ) 1701
• Supercharger Belt Tensioner (18.50.24) 1703
  • Intake Air Resonator 1818
• Supercharger Belt Idler Pulley (18.50.09) 1707

 

Wow, this is very helpful, thanks a lot!