Today I was finally getting around to changing the supercharger and serpentine belts and pulleys. I drained the radiator, removed the fan assembly and radiator hoses. Then I hit a snag, 2 to be precise.

The first, I never took note on how the serpentine belt or the supercharger belt were routed. Now I can't make heads or tails of it. I would appreciate it if someone could please provide me with the belt routing diagrams for both.

The second hiccup was that, I am unable to remove the intercooler cap using the tool suggested in previous threads. You know, the one were you use a bolt and two nuts to fashion a giant makeshift allen key that requires a 19 mm wrench to turn. Problem is, the damn cap seems to have forged itself onto the intercooler of the supercharger. I can't muster enough strength. I have tried both righty tighty and lefty loosey and nothing.

Will the supercharger intercooler fill itself as I add coolant to the expansion tank once the thermostat opens up at optimal operating temperature or is it required that I add coolant via the supercharger's cap?

 

Belt routing page 136

VSB_07_2004.pdf

 

From JTIS:




Graham

 

Got it routed according to these diagrams but I can't do it. The tensioner requires a herculean amount of energy for me to be able to move it when trying to pull on the belt. Is that normally done with some tool? On the XK8, I remember you could move the tensioner with a torque wrench or a ratchet wrench with a cheater bar, but I see no way of doing the same thing on the XKR.

Is there a way of releasing tension on the tensioner so I can finally get this damn belt on?

 

Update, I figured it out and got it done. Problem solved. I noticed that both tensioners have a square slot to which a ratchet without socket on fits. Used an extension bar to clear some space with the ratchet and was able to move the tensioner that way. It was still hard, but I didn't require Herculean strength.



Does anyone know if the supercharger intercooler will be filled if I only fill through the expansion tank? I am unable to remove the cap on the intercooler.

 

Today everything seems to be working out. Found a better spanner that was long enough to provide significant torque and got the cap off.

 

Yep, inserting a breaker bar with a 3/8-inch end on it into that square hole on the front face of the tensioner arm allows you to get the leverage you need to move the arm and remove / replace the belt. My buddy and I just did that today on my wife's 2006 XK8....