Chevrolet Equinox Serpentine Accessory Belt Replacement Guide - 2018 To 2022 Model Years (2024)

Owners of other General Motors vehicles from Chevy, Buick, GMC, Cadillac and Holden such as the Trax, Blazer, Traverse, Tahoe, Suburban, Cruze, Malibu, Impala, Camaro, Cascada, LaCrosse, Encore, Envision, Enclave, Regal, Canyon, Sierra, Terrain, Acadia, Yukon, Savana, XT4, XT5, XT6, Escalade, CTS, XTS, CT6, Astra, Commodore and Trailblazer may also find these DIY instructions to be helpful.

The original genuine GM serpentine belt on this 2018 Equinox Premier was part number ACDelco 12654472.

Two other compatible replacement belts for the Ecotec 1.5L turbo I4 engine with their part numbers include the following: ACDelco 5K689 and Gates K050689.

The tools needed to complete this procedure include a flat head screwdriver, a long 3/8" drive breaker bar, or a long 18" to 24" 1/2" drive breaker bar with a 1/2" to 3/8" adapter.

You may be able to use a standard ratchet if it is long enough to provide the leverage needed to rotate the tensioner arm, release the tension on the old belt and slip it off the pulleys.

The first two steps are to open the hood and then move to the left (passenger) side of the engine bay.

Loosen the screw on the silver metal hose clamp attached to the engine air filter box by turning it in the counterclockwise direction with a flat head screwdriver.

Gently pull the rubber hose off the plastic air intake tube on the air box.

Next, you can either detach the lower part of the air intake hose or just secure it out of the way.

I chose to wrap some painter's tape around the end of the hose and attach it to the engine bay frame near the radiator. You could also use a bungee cord.

Once the rubber air intake hose is out of the way, you'll be able to see the old belt and the various pulleys.

Take a moment to study how the old belt is routed around the pulleys including the alternator, crankshaft, tensioner, water pump (coolant) and the air conditioning system's compressor. I'll include a belt routing diagram further down on this page.

There is a square opening near the end of the tensioner arm for a 3/8" drive ratchet or breaker bar.

I chose to use a long 1/2" drive breaker bar with a 1/2" to 3/8" adapter.

Insert the 3/8" drive square peg into the opening on the tensioner arm.

Hold the tensioner in the released position closer to the back of the engine bay with one hand.

Very carefully slip the old belt off the tensioner pulley and the other pulleys.

Do not place your fingers or hand in between the old belt or any of the pulleys!

Pull the old belt through the opening in the motor mount on the side of the engine.

If the old belt is in relatively good condition, consider keeping it as an emergency backup just in case the new belt fails prematurely.

The OEM (original equipment manufacturer) belt in this 2018 Equinox Premier 1.5L turbo I4 was the ACDelco 12654472.

I've included a belt routing diagram below. The image is missing the motor mount on the left (passenger) side that you need to pass the belt through to reach the alternator.

If you found that your old belt was loose and the tensioner arm was very easy to rotate, you may need to replace the entire assembly. I also recommend checking to see if the tensioner pulley spins freely. If the pulley doesn't spin easily, wobbles or makes a squeaking noise, the bearing may have failed and the pulley will need to be replaced.

The OEM part number for the belt tensioner assembly is ACDelco 12638689.

Carefully lower the new belt into the engine bay.

Pass one loop of the new belt through the opening in the silver metal motor mount.

Pull the loop over the alternator pulley at the rear of the engine.

Then wrap the new belt over the A/C compressor, the water pump pulley and the large crankshaft pulley.

Rotate the tensioner arm back by using the 3/8" drive breaker bar.

Carefully slip the last loop of the new belt over the tensioner pulley.

Double check that the new belt has been properly routed.

To check the tension on the new belt, grasp it at the middle of the longest run in between the alternator and the water pump.

A belt with the proper amount of tension should only be able to be rotated about 90 degrees (perpendicular) to the rest of the belt at the longest run.

Tighten the hose clamp by turning the screw in the clockwise direction with the flat head screwdriver.

Start the engine and listen closely for any strange sounds. If you hear any noises, turn off the engine, double check your routing and the tensioner assembly.

Be sure to record the belt change in your vehicle's service records.

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