serpentine belt tensioner bolt stuck - it's good for a laugh if nothing else.

[andyfisk]

OK, first I'll admit this is all my own doing.

I thought I would do a quick and easy serpentine tensioner replacement on my '05 aveo LS, got the top bolt out no problem, then started on the lower one, broke it loose with a wrench, figured it was a bit of a PITA to keep going with a regular wrench, so I switched to a ratchet wrench, the bolt was already loose, so I didn't need to do anymore than unscrew it or so I thought. After getting the bolt almost all the way out, I realised that the wrench was up hard against the back of the PS pulley, being a ratchet, I can't tighten it back up, there's no space to get a pair of pliers or vice grips round the bolt to turn it.

Does anyone know if I can loosen the 2 bolts that mount the pump through the holes in the PS pulley, and will that give me enough wriggle room (and 1/8th of an inch would do it).

Any other suggestions, I really don't want to turn this into any more of a project. Quite willing to sacrifice the wrench, the bolt etc.

[Eg.h2o]

From the looks of it, yeah I think you can get enough room by removing the power steering mounting bolts. Good luck.