sleeper

New parts = nice...

Blue- Looks like you were about ready for new.

HHGhost

I bought the tool from HF and cut it down to 13 inches. Now I have it if I need it so not a big deal. I'm disabled and did the replacement by myself in about an hour total, including cutting the tool with a hacksaw. A couple of tips. Stretch the belt using your hand and foot, but not crazy hard, just a nice little stretch. I also started on the alternator, and placed a decent sized rock on top so it couldn't slip off. I was prepared to use a lever to make the belt go on from underneath the car, but it wasn't needed after the small stretch. I also have eyesight issues, and essential tremors. This was easier than I read about doing. Not sure if the shortcuts are costing any others more time. Don't be worried and save yourself quite a bit of money, while gaining the experience of how to replace the tensioner if it ever goes bad. Good luck, but you don't need it after doing this job. Hardest part for me was jacking the car up with the standard scissor jack.

Oldblue

Glad you got it done, welcome to the site!

sleeper

Welcome aboard, Careful with that scissors jack. Need jack stands or similar as well.

DC Vorhies

My 2010 HHR does not have the room nor the access to the tensioner square hole it has a solid body panel blocking it totally the only hole there is for the bolt to replace the tensioner itself when you run into this issue use a pipe on the tensioner at its lowest point closest to the cam pulley and your floor jack to wedge the pulley arm upwards so you can install the belt itself (If you run into this issue on the 2010 HHR LS) there's no clearance to get to the square hole from the top or the bottom trust me took me 3 hrs to do my serpentine belt

Oldblue

the HF tool works , just have to cut it to length.