Changing my Serpentine belt, can anyone help?

I'm attempting to change the serpenting belt on my 98 ford windstar. I managed to get the old belt off by removing the alternator, but I cant move the tensioner enough to get the new belt on. I get it real close, but not enough.



any advice?
Changing my Serpentine belt, can anyone help?
Double check you have the right belt size, also, I have run into belt %26quot;brands%26quot; that are a hair different in size. The trick on most if they are tight is to make sure you are %26quot;rolling%26quot; or sliding it onto the idler pulley after its on all other pulleys, the idler pulley usually doesnt have a %26quot;lip%26quot; and will slide over easier. If all else fails and its the correct number, try a different belt brand. ( ps, do you have the old belt? if so, have the parts store run the number on it to verify the new part number interchange, as its possible a alternator could have been replaced and the replacement had a bigger pulley on it, common with alot of cheap %26quot; autozone%26quot; parts)
Changing my Serpentine belt, can anyone help?
did you get the right length belt?also spray the tensioner with pb blaster and the tensioner loosened right to loosen and left to tighten.
sounds like you may have it routed the wrong way. Usually there is a belt diagram on the upper radiator core support. Make sure you have the belt going the right way around the pulleys. If one is wrong the alternator or power steering pump may run backwards. they don't do their job very well running backwards. you may also have the wrong size belt. check to make sure you aren't snagged on a bolt, or the belt is going around the harmonic balancer instead of the harmonic balancer pulley. It shouldn't be that hard to get on, this is a maintenance thing that is no strain required.
sounds like they gave you the wrong belt...