Well my appointment was a nice waste of 3 hours. I'm basically on the hook for $700, i told them if they weren't going to cover the rotors, fine, but they should be replacing that belt...They told me a belt can go from looking new to being in poor condition in the 4 months i had the car...which i laughed at, and told them i don't live in the desert and theres no way it can happen that fast here. I've had my 01 venture for 6 years and the belt still looks brand new! LOL
ANYWAYS, i'll be buying rotors and doing all the work myself and save $600 haha

Rant over

 

Check out Ebay I have a set of rotors and "performance" ceramic pads in the garage I paid $70 for. Forget it if you are a "brand" guy. Prime Choice is in Canada, and one of my favorite vendors.

Belt cost less than $20, borrow the tool, Jack up the engine, remove the motor mount; 20 minute job.

 

Thanks for the tip! I picked up a belt already...$16!! i was surprised it was that cheap LOL
I was thinking of going to NAPA but i'll check out ebay now if they're that cheap! Thanks!

 

You don't need to jack up the engine to change the belt. Get a serpentine belt tool at Harbor freight for $18 to loosen the tensioner with that. It's easier if you remove the passenger side tire and splash shield to get at the crank pulley and compressor pulley if needed. It's an easy job. If your parts store has 2 versions of the belt, get the shorter of the two. There is about 1/2" difference.

 

My gf`s uncle is a mechanic at the Chev dealer by our house, when i told him he brought me the belt ( he drives the exact same hhr as mine) so i`m assuming he got the right one, but he is one of THEM after all LOL jk
I think i`ll try and find that tool here in town cause i really dont want to jack the engine up haha

 

Belt tool at Harbour freight: http://www.harborfreight.com/serpent...kit-66344.html

Belt tool at Princess auto: - and they have 2 stores in Cow-Town http://www.princessauto.com/pal/en/E...Tool/8051658.p

 

sweet, Thanks! you guys rock!

 

If you buy the tool you MUST modify it, thus my suggestion of removing the motor mount then you can "borrow" the tool from your local Auto Parts store. By jacking up the engine I mean just enough to support it on a 2X4. The "standard" tool is too long to use in an HHR engine compartment, mainly because the 3/8 square is mounted at 90 degrees to the bar. So you have to cut the handle down to make it useful.

Or if you have $200 you could buy the Kent-Moore tool that has the 3/8 square mounted at 45 degrees to the bar.

This has been discussed in other threads ad nauseum.

 

hmm, i think i'll wait until i have an extra hand to help me with the belt LOL

 

LOL - CHICKEN!!! ;-)

Just don't do what someone did on another forum - jack up the engine using a bottle jack directly on the oil pan, punching a hole through the oil pan. That is definitely the wrong way to................ lube a bottle jack!!!

Let us know how it works out for you man. :)