This "how to" automotive repair guide was specifically written to assist owners of the 6th generation (1997,1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 & 2003) General Motors Pontiac Grand Prix GTP in replacing the serpentine (accessory) belt.

Owners of other GM cars with engines similar to the 3800 Series II 3.8 Liter V6 may also find the guide to be useful.

These other vehicles include the following: Buick Park Avenue Ultra, Olds Eighty-Eight LS, Oldsmobile Eighty Eight LSS, Olds Ninety-Eight, Pontiac Bonneville (SLE, SSE, SSEi), Buick Riviera, Buick Regal (GS, GSX, SLP), Chevy Impala SS, and the Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS.

I am not a professional mechanic. I assume no responsibility for damage to your vehicle, persons, property or pets. If you have any doubts, please consult an ASE certified mechanic. Please proceed with caution at your own risk.

I popped the hood and saw that nearly half of the serpentine belt had broken off.

Luckily, the other half of the "accessory" belt held together long enough to drive to Advance Auto Parts and pick up a new one. The new belt that I purchased is a Dayco brand Poly Rib model # 5060918.

A few other compatible serpentine accessory belts with their part numbers are as follows: Bando 6PK2325, ArmorMark 915K6, ACDelco 12588411 and Roadmax 6K915AP.

Engine serpentine accessory belts usually last anywhere from 60,000 miles to upwards of 100,000 miles.

They should be inspected at least twice a year for cracks, fraying, glazing, or other signs of significant wear.

The tools needed to complete this procedure include the following: 15mm socket, 13mm socket, 10mm socket, 8mm socket, a 3/8" drive ratchet, and a long handled socket wrench.

To remove either the serpentine or the Supercharger Belt, it helps to first remove the coolant overflow tank.

My car has a Buick STB (strut tower brace) installed in the engine compartment, so I had to detach the left side of it before removing the coolant overflow tank.

The Buick STB requires a 13mm socket and ratcheting wrench to remove the two passenger side bolts.

If your car is naturally aspirated, such as the Pontiac Grand Prix SE or GT, skip ahead to the instructions after the supercharger belt removal located below picture # 40.

The coolant overflow bottle is held in place by two thin 10mm nuts.

Once the coolant bottle is pulled up out of the engine bay, detach the black rubber hose from its side.

To prevent any coolant from leaking out of the hose, I covered it with a plastic bag and a rubber band.

Be careful when you move the coolant bottle because the fluid can splash out of the lid and the tube on the side.

I had originally decided to remove the battery and the passenger side engine brace to make accessing the belts easier.

This may have not been necessary as there is plenty of room to reach the belts and pulleys once the coolant overflow bottle is out of the way.

For extra safety, I removed both battery cables and covered the side mounted battery terminals with blue painters tape.

I didn't want to risk accidentally putting a wrench across the two terminals and getting a shock.

To remove the serpentine belt, I first had to remove the supercharger belt.

Study the routing diagram on your car, or the one I took a picture in the row above.

The smooth tensioner pulley for the supercharger belt is located below the supercharger pulley towards the front of the car.

It is just behind a black ribbed idler pulley.

To loosen the supercharger belt, place the 15mm socket and long handled socket wrench on the SC belt tensioner pulley.

Pull the wrench towards the front of the car to release the tension on the supercharger belt.

While holding the wrench in this position, slip the supercharger belt off the supercharger pulley.

If you can't slip it off, rotate the wrench more towards the front of the car to further loosen the belt.

To completely remove the supercharger belt, pull it off the crank shaft (largest & lowest pulley), the tensioner and the two idler pulleys (3.5" smooth metal & 3" ribbed plastic).

To release the tension on the serpentine belt, place the 15mm socket on the pulley and push the long handled socket wrench towards the rear of the car.

I recommend buying the Bando 6PK2325 serpentine belt since it has excellent reviews on Amazon.

With the tension released, you can pull the old serpentine belt off the alternator and then off the other pulleys.

The serpentine belt is routed around or over the water pump, crank shaft, air conditioner compressor, the power steering pump, and the tensioner.

Now is a good time to check all of the idler, tensioner and other pulleys to see that they spin freely.

The large crank shaft pulley is the only one you shouldn't be able to spin by hand.

If any idler or tensioner pulley does not rotate easily with the flick of a finger, you should replace them now before they seize.

I had to replace both the Supercharger Belt Idler Pulley and the Serpentine Belt Tensioner Pulley. For instructions on how to change those pulleys, click on the preceding link.

First study the routing diagram.

Also keep in mind that any smooth pulley gets the smooth side of the belt and any ribbed pulley should be wrapped by the ribbed side of the belt.

Pull the serpentine belt up towards the alternator and hold it with one hand.

With your other hand, place the 15mm socket and long handled wrench on the tensioner pulley just below the alternator.

Push the long handled wrench towards the rear of the car to release the tension on the belt and then slip it over the alternator pulley.

Double check the routing diagram and the serpentine belt to make sure that it is routed properly over the correct pulleys.

Make sure that every smooth pulley is against the smooth side of the belt and every ribbed pulley is against the ribbed side of the belt.

If you're car is naturally aspirated (doesn't have a supercharger) you're done replacing the serpentine belt.

Skip past the next block of text.

Route the supercharger belt over or around the outer part of the crankshaft pulley, the two idler pulleys and the tensioner pulley.

Hold the supercharger belt near the supercharger pulley with one hand.

With your other hand, place the 15mm socket and long handled wrench on the tensioner pulley located just below the SC pulley and towards the front of the car.

Pull the long handled wrench towards the front of the car to loosen the belt and then slip it over the supercharger pulley.

Check that the belt is routed properly with the smooth side against every smooth pulley and the ribbed side against the ribbed pulleys.

Then re-attach the Buick STB if your car is equipped with one.

If you've done everything right, your engine should look and sound like mine in this video clip - GM 3800 Series II Engine Running Video.

For more of my automotive "how-to" instruction guides, click on the following links: Pontiac Grand Prix Supercharger Belt Replacement Guide, GM 3800 Series II Tensioner & Idler Pulleys Replacement Guide, Pontiac Grand Prix Front Brake Pads Replacement Guide, Grand Prix Rear Brake Pads Replacement Guide, Pontiac Grand Prix Brake Lines Bleeding Guide, GM 3800 Series II Power Steering Fluid Maintenance Guide, Pontiac Grand Prix Alternator Replacement Guide, Pontiac Grand Prix PCV Valve Replacement Guide, Grand Prix TCS/ABS/SES Troubleshooting Guide, GM Pontiac Grand Prix Power Window Motor & Regulator Replacement Guide, GM Wheel Bearing Hub Replacement Guide, GM Pontiac Grand Prix Engine Oil Change Guide, Eaton M90 Supercharger Oil Change Guide, and the Tail Light or Headlight Condensation Removal Guide.

For more, check out all of my Pontiac Grand Prix DIY Repair & Maintenance Guides.