# Prizm AC Belt **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [October 11, 2012, 5:48am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/prizm-ac-belt/74927 "2012-10-11T05:48:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Raindem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b77776/32.png) [@Raindem](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Raindem)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2012, 5:48am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/prizm-ac-belt/74927/1 "2012-10-11T05:48:49Z")
Hi. I’m trying to remove the AC belt off a '96 Geo Prizm. I’ve loosened the idler pulley adjusting bolt, per my Chilton’s manual, but it doesn’t loosen the belt. It’s as if the pulley is stuck in the bracket. Even if I completely removed the adjusting bolt the pulley wouldn’t budge. How can I unstick this thing without damaging the pulley? Thanks Curt ---
**Author:** ![keith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/keith/32/5518_2.png) [@keith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/keith)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2012, 5:57am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/prizm-ac-belt/74927/2 "2012-10-11T05:57:25Z")
Behind the pulley bracket should be a vertical bolt, this is the actual adjustment. You loosen the bolt that goes through the pulley’s bushing, then turn the other bolt to run the pulley up and down to tighten or loosen the belt. ---
**Author:** ![Raindem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b77776/32.png) [@Raindem](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Raindem)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2012, 6:20am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/prizm-ac-belt/74927/3 "2012-10-11T06:20:47Z")
Thanks for the reply Keith. What is “the bolt that goes through the pulley’s bushing”? I only see the vertical adjustment bolt. Do you mean the bolt that goes through the center of the pulley? ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 1:27am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/prizm-ac-belt/74927/4 "2012-10-12T01:27:08Z")
Does it look like this? [http://cdn.2carpros.com/automotive\_pictures/261618\_Noname\_383.jpg](http://cdn.2carpros.com/automotive_pictures/261618_Noname_383.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![BustedKnuckles](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bustedknuckles/32/25_2.png) [@BustedKnuckles](https://community.cartalk.com/u/BustedKnuckles)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 3:12am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/prizm-ac-belt/74927/5 "2012-10-12T03:12:25Z")
The Geo Prism is a re-badged Toyota Corolla. Toyota usually has a fixed A/C mount and an adjustable idler pulley to tighten the belt. The pulley generally has a bolt (jack screw) that is used to set the belt tension, that you obviously loosened and a lock nut on the bearing, just like Keith mentioned, that locks the pulley and tension together. Looks like this: ![](http://0.tqn.com/d/autorepair/1/0/S/Z/42175428.gif) ---
**Author:** ![keith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/keith/32/5518_2.png) [@keith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/keith)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 4:32am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/prizm-ac-belt/74927/6 "2012-10-12T04:32:00Z")
Yes ---
**Author:** ![Raindem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b77776/32.png) [@Raindem](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Raindem)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2012, 6:30am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/prizm-ac-belt/74927/7 "2012-10-14T06:30:35Z")
Yep, you guys nailed it. Once I loosened the lock nut the pulley slid down and allowed removal of the belt. Now for the remaining 85 steps to replace the timing belt!