I have a 87 subaru gl (1.8 fuel injected) that I bought a few months ago. It came with what I think is the wrong drive belt, so I ordered the OE belts from Subaru based on the VIN. The one that's on there now looks brand new, and it's a close fit, but I can't get it properly tensioned.

 

To my surprise when I went to the dealership to pick it up there were TWO drive belts, as there was only one on the car when I bought it.

 

The one drive belt goes (from left to right going clockwise) the power steering, ac compressor (hitachi I think?), alternator, and waterpump, and crankshaft. There's grooves for the second belt on everything but the alternator.

 

Now I have two questions:

 

Where I'm scratching my head is from what I researched there should be an idler pulley that tensions the second belt. There's a bracket (similar what the alternator slides on) under and to the right of the ac -- is that where the idler pulley is supposed to atttach? Or is there another tensioning method?

 

And where the hell will I get a new pulley if that is the problem?

 

And my other problem is I can't figure out how to install the alternator belt -- it's too small to go around the four pulleys plus the alternator. Both belts are the same size, and I'm perplexed how one will go around the four pulleys I see and other one will go around those same four plus the alternator.

 

The most helpful thing I've found is the How to Keep Your Subaru Alive book pdf. I attached a picture from it, the layout I have is the middle image (minus the pulley).drive belt.tiff

Take the belt to Napa or the like. Get the next size bigger or smaller as needed. Yes there is supposed to be a tensioner and a second belt.