Water Pump, Tensioner and Idler Pulley

[maemae215]

Hello everyone, I have a 1999 Pontiac Trans Am with a LS1 engine with approximately 121,000 miles. I know I need a water pump and thermostat. My question is, how many idler pulleys and tensioner's does the vehicle have. I believe the water pump has a tensioner on it and a idler pulley on the serpentine belt. Please I would be thankful for any information to this matter.

[DarrenWS6]

Like most other engines, there is just a tensioner pulley and one idler. Tensioner on passenger side which uses a 13mm to release the belt tension, idler pulley is on drivers side by the power steering pulley.

If the pulley on the tensioner is bad it should be changed as a whole unit. It also would be a good idea to cha ge the serpentine belt and the AC belt while in there at your mileage. The GM serpentine belt is getting harder to get ( part # 12569527 ) so off brand may have to do, and the idler is available and is GM part # 12560344.

[pajeff02]

Is the pump leaking or are you having overheating issues? Changing the stat isn't a bad idea, along with replacing the coolant, however, unless the pump is acting up they seem to last quite a long time.

[sjgreen6]

Rockauto has a Gates kit that includes the belt, tensioner and idler pulley all in one package. Easy to swap them over without doing much more than putting the front on ramps and removing the air box. At your mileage if they haven't ever been replaced I wouldn't bother with one part without doing all three.