How to replace a serpentine belt [AUTODOC TUTORIAL]

How to change serpentine belt on a car – replacement tutorial

Things you may need:

                      a new serpentine belt
                    
                      a set of suitable tools
                    
                      torque wrench
                    
                      universal spray cleaner and a wire brush
                    
                      WD-40 spray
                    
                      depending on the car’s design: a jack, jack stands, and wheel chocks

Buy tools

Installing a new serpentine belt may be necessary in the following cases:

abnormal noises when the engine is started or running
malfunctions of the engine-driven accessories
routine replacement

1.

On most cars with a transverse engine you will need to remove the front right wheel to replace the belt
2.

On some cars, you can access the belt just by opening the bonnet
3.

On others, some car body parts have to be removed first

The serpentine belt drives the engine-driven accessories:
viscous fan couplingalternatorair conditioner compressorpower steering pumpwater pump and other equipment
4.

The serpentine belt transmits torque from the crankshaft to the pulleys of other devices, activating them
5.

On most vehicles, you can locate the engine-driven accessories by opening the bonnet. However, you will not be able to replace the belt due to the tight space
6.

Loosen the belt before removing it. Use the tensioner pulley for this
7.

Move the automatic tensioner aside or manually loosen the mechanical one. The belt can then be easily removed

There are two types of tensioners:
- an automatic one uses a spring to tension the belt- a mechanical one needs to be turned manually to adjust the tension
8.

There are self-tensioning belts which are used without a tensioning mechanism. Replacing this type of belt requires special equipment
9.

Access the belt and identify the tensioner type
10.

Take a picture or sketch a belt routing diagram
11.

Attach a suitable tool to the tensioner and move it aside

Important!
The tool must be secured reliably to prevent injury
12.

After loosening the belt, remove it from one of the pulleys
13.

Return the tensioning mechanism to its original position
14.

Remove the belt from the other pulleys
15.

Use a lock pin if the design of the tensioner provides for this
16.

Check that the tensioner and idler pulleys can move freely and check the condition of the alternator one-way clutch, crankshaft damper pulley, and all other pulleys

AUTODOC experts recommend:
Replace these components if necessary
17.

Position the new belt in accordance with the routing diagram
18.

Install the belt on the pulleys one by one
19.

Make sure that the belt is installed correctly, not misaligned, and that its ribs are fitted into the pulley grooves
20.

Lower the tensioner and remove the lock pin if you used one
21.

If the tensioner is mechanical, check the belt deflection by pressing on the long section between the pulleys

Important!
It should not deflect too much
22.

If an automatic tensioner does not provide the correct tension, replace it

Please note!
Special tools can be used to measure the tension

Comments – 2

P.I.

23.09.2024 17:27

Member

Top, recomand.
- @Graziana Venturi
  
  24.09.2024 06:51
  
  P.I.
  
  Moderator
  
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