Is there an easy way to do this without the special tool? I'm out of town doing an sort-of emergency repair on my car at my parent's house, and I need to get this done without the special tool.

 

Not that I know of.

 

If you are refering to the tensioner on the serpentine belt which wraps around the supercharger pulley...

I used a crow bar as a lever and some random item (I forget now) wedged in a "safe" place in/around the block as a pivot. It is not easy and you can damage the belt as well as other parts. I was replacing my belt anyway... Once the tensioner is moved, you can put a screwdriver (or similar item) in the hole on top to hold it.

Think "lever" and "safety" and go to it!

dan

 

From Herbie Hind

put a 16mm socket on the large front pivot bolt. then use a large pry bar against a 6mm pin inserted in one of the small holes in thetensioner side near spring. pry on bar and insert a drift or leather awl or small screw driver (you get the idea) into the lower hole of the spring steel that comes up as it presents itself. this will hold the tensioner while youwap the belt.