# Stripped serpentine tensioner bolt

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/stripped-serpentine-tensioner-bolt/167018>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [July 9, 2020, 3:42am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/stripped-serpentine-tensioner-bolt/167018 "2020-07-09T03:42:05Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![jameson.luttrell\_154832](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e274bd/32.png) [@jameson.luttrell\_154832](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jameson.luttrell_154832)\
**Post date:** [July 9, 2020, 3:42am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/stripped-serpentine-tensioner-bolt/167018/1 "2020-07-09T03:42:05Z")

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My brother bought a POS Rav4. The serpentine tensioner bolt is snapped. I need to take the belt off. Can I just cut through the belt?

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**Author:** ![kurtwm1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/13edae/32.png) [@kurtwm1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/kurtwm1)\
**Post date:** [July 9, 2020, 4:05am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/stripped-serpentine-tensioner-bolt/167018/2 "2020-07-09T04:05:48Z")

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Sure you can.

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**Author:** ![PhantomPatriot](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/phantompatriot/32/20713_2.png) [@PhantomPatriot](https://community.cartalk.com/u/PhantomPatriot)\
**Post date:** [July 9, 2020, 5:18am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/stripped-serpentine-tensioner-bolt/167018/3 "2020-07-09T05:18:16Z")

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Please wear eye protection if you decide to do this.

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**Author:** ![jameson.luttrell\_154832](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e274bd/32.png) [@jameson.luttrell\_154832](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jameson.luttrell_154832)\
**Post date:** [July 9, 2020, 3:30pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/stripped-serpentine-tensioner-bolt/167018/4 "2020-07-09T15:30:15Z")

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Will do. Thank you.

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**Author:** ![shanonia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de053/32.png) [@shanonia](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shanonia)\
**Post date:** [July 9, 2020, 3:45pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/stripped-serpentine-tensioner-bolt/167018/5 "2020-07-09T15:45:21Z")

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If you want to remove and replace the broken bolt and reuse the belt, maybe loosening the water pump will let you slip the belt off.

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**Author:** ![NYBo](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nybo/32/17281_2.png) [@NYBo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/NYBo)\
**Post date:** [July 9, 2020, 9:35pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/stripped-serpentine-tensioner-bolt/167018/6 "2020-07-09T21:35:16Z")

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If the tensioner bolt is snapped off, there should be no tension on the belt. 😕

Perhaps a picture?