VE 3.0 drive belt routing. With or Without Idler Pulley

[magemx]

Hey, bought a new Tensioner with belt for this 2010 VE 3.0ltr (SIDI). It came as a kit on cheap. Installed the new tensioner and then thought I'd install the new belt as well, only it was alot shorter...pull up the haynes sure enough theres 2 routing configs, one with and without the idler pulley.
All I got in the Haynes is I - Idler (some models) - lots of information there!
Anyone got any experience with this or does anyone have a VE without an IDLER pulley?
Edit:
Gates Tensioner Pulley and Gates 2020mm belt $101.00 - Not a bad deal. I'm looking at the specs and it lists this vehicle. But the proper belt would be a 2565mm. However I attached the belt and vehicle runs fine. The idler pulley bearings are noisy, I could replace that for $50 or just ignore it completely and remove it!
Why is there 2 belt configs for this engine!

WOR_pulley

• magemx
• Jun 27, 2019

VE 3.0 and 3.6 litre and VF 3.0 litre V6 drive belt routing diagram

 

[Fu Manchu]

I would imagine the idler pulley allows for greater contact with the power steering and ac.
perhaps on the smaller 3.0L engines, they aren't going to slip so easy?

 

[magemx]

Yep. You are right. There are active (electric) power steering models, so is the idler for that model (VF). I don't think there is even a VE that takes a 2020 belt. Haynes was pretty weak on this minor detail. And these auto stores (repco, supercheap) ... SMH

 

[Shane 3.0]

Not sure if this helps, but when I purchased my belt for 3.0 Repco had to ring golden with chassis number to confirm belt as come with 2 different sizes. The belt I got was
Serpentine Belt 6PK2125RB.