Saab 9-5 2.3T Serpentine Belt and Idler Pulleys

[toxicavenger]

Rat, I have thank you again for the write up since I just did the belt on my wife's 06' 9-5 and the tape over the bolt method worked great! Also her car had the short belt but I went ahead and install a new center pulley and a long belt. So thanks again bro!

[oviedo]

Really really excellent write up, detailed, lots of helpful pics, step to step, this is five stars for me. Congrats raquetelaker.
And I have to thank you for writing that about vibration, my 9-5 is doing the same in the first 3,4 minutes everytime, has 63000 miles on it. And I was wondering if it had to do with the serpentine belt. So it´s the tensioner! I have to do this as soon as posible.
Just a quick question whats the aprox price for all pulleys, the belt and the tensioner at the dealer? I´m wondering if PFS or Elkparts or europarts sell these same parts cheaper.

[raquettelaker2]

I got all my parts from eEuro and I think they were around $220.

[fgi]

When removing the tensioner assembly do you have to have it locked with the allen key?

[Shazam]

If you have the belt taken off the tensioner, then I don't think you need to have it locked... I believe.

[fgi]

Yeah, I got it off no problem. I'll have to go buy a 1/2" socket extension tomorrow. The belt had got caught in the tensioner pulley and jammed it up. I got it off and got the belt unwound from the pulley and it's spinning free now. The tensioner actually looks pretty new, so I don't think I'm going to replace it just yet.

Another question I have, is the upper idler pulley supposed to turn or does the belt kinda just spin around that?

[Shazam]

Are you talking about pulley number 7 (from the picture below)?

[fgi]

Nah the #1 pulley, I took it off and yeah its def supposed to turn

[Shazam]

Yeah, I don't know why it would matter which one it is... they should all turn.

[fgi]

Well, I got a new pulley. With all the right tools and parts this was pretty easy for someone who doesnt know jack about cars =)

Thanks everyone for the great walk-through and answers, Im thrilled my car is back up and running