Serpentine belt tensioner GGRRRRR!

[oldshoman]

On my 94ATX,the pulley on the serpentine belt tensioner (between the PS pulley and the crank pulley) is chirping like a canary. If I put a little grease on my finger and rub in onto the surface of the bearing it quiets down for a day or so and then returns. I have another pulley to put on, but when I put a 17mm wrench on it and torque it clockwise I can't budge the tensioner to loosen the belt. What am I doing wrong? How much force do I need to exert to take the tension off the belt? I am just using a closed end 10" wrench.

 

[MD Ever]

I've had my belt off several times lately (ac compressor issue) and haven't had much trouble with the tensioner. I have a tensioner tool (2 foot long bar with different adapters for different tensioners) but I didn't have to put that much pressure on it. You might have a frozen tensioner.

 

[NoSlo]

It does take a big bar, you aren't going to be able to do it with a little wrench unless you are a linebacker. You can cheat and get a piece of pipe at a hardware store that will fit over the end of a rachet (and use a 6 point socket to avoid stripping the nut).