Do It Yourself Auto Repair Videos Drive Belt Replacement

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Bulldoze belts concluding a long time these days—normally up of 100,000 miles. Just somewhen, they crack, fray, and require replacement.

Is your drive belt looking like information technology has seen better days? If then, you might want to effort replacing it yourself. Usually, swapping out a belt is a relatively straightforward task that requires only bones hand tools.

Drive Belt Replacement: How-To

Virtually modern cars have a single serpentine chugalug that wraps around all engine-driven accessories (i.due east., the alternator, A/C compressor, etc.). The belt connects the accessories to the crankshaft pulley so that they can be driven off the engine.

automotive drive belt — The drive belt connects all engine-driven accessories to the crankshaft caster , then that they can be driven off the engine.

On the other hand, older vehicles oft apply multiple 5-belts (also known as fan belts) to connect the accessories to the crankshaft pulley.

Tools Needed to Replace a Serpentine/Drive Belt

Because most vehicles on the road today have a serpentine belt, nosotros're going to encompass replacing that type of chugalug in this article.

The tools needed to perform serpentine/drive belt replacement will vary, depending on what blazon of machine you have.

In full general, however, you'll need:

Repair transmission or access to a repair database
Safety spectacles
Serpentine belt tool, billow bar, or long-handle wrench (depending on the vehicle)

Serpentine/Bulldoze Belt Replacement Instructions

Before nosotros begin, continue in mind⁠—all vehicles are unlike. The information below is generic and for entertainment and educational purposes only. Be sure to follow the repair information for your specific application.

Repair manuals, such as those from Chilton, are useful, but a subscription to a repair database is even meliorate. ALLDATA and Mitchell 1 both have single-vehicle subscriptions for DIYers that provide detailed factory repair data.

You lot tin larn more about accessing quality repair information in this commodity.

serpentine belt — While drive belts these days last a long fourth dimension, they eventually crack, fray, and require replacement.

Serpentine/Drive Belt Removal:

Put on your prophylactic glasses.
Note how the chugalug is routed earlier removal. Some vehicles accept a belt routing diagram decal located in the engine compartment for reference. You can also use your phone to accept a photo of the way the belt is routed.
Locate the drive chugalug automatic tensioner. Depending on the tensioner'south design, information technology may have either a foursquare slot (that accepts the drive cease of a ratchet) or a traditional bolt caput.
Using the appropriate tool, push the tensioner to rotate information technology away from the belt and relieve tension. The tensioner may demand to rotate either clockwise or counterclockwise, depending on the design.
While holding the tensioner back with one hand, use your other mitt to slip the belt off of one of the accessory pulleys (cull the pulley that's easiest to reach).
Feed the belt out and away from the remaining pulleys, and then remove the belt from the vehicle.

Serpentine Belt Installation:

Compare the new belt to the old chugalug to ensure that they share the aforementioned design.
Consult the belt routing diagram (or the photograph yous took earlier). And so route the chugalug over all just 1 of the pulleys (exit the easiest to reach pulley for last).
Hold the belt close to the final pulley with one manus, then use the other hand to rotate the tensioner with the appropriate tool.
Use your hand to slip the chugalug onto the final accompaniment pulley.
Once the belt is in identify, you tin can release the tensioner slowly.
Double-check the belt one more than time to ensure it's routed correctly.
Start the engine to check your work.

Helpful Bulldoze Chugalug Replacement Videos

To give you lot a better idea of how to perform the steps outlined above, we've included some helpful videos that demonstrate bulldoze belt replacement:

Any information provided on this Website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace consultation with a professional mechanic.