- Replacement serpentine belt (refer to your vehicle's owner's manual for the correct size)
- Socket set
- Ratchet
- Breaker bar (optional)
- Pliers
- Safety glasses
Instructions:
1. Park your car on a level surface and apply the parking brake. Turn off the engine and let it cool down. Prop open the hood.
2. Locate the serpentine belt. It is usually located at the front of the engine, wrapped around the crankshaft pulley, water pump, alternator, and power steering pump.
3. Release the tension on the serpentine belt. There are two ways to do this:
- Use a breaker bar to loosen the tensioner pulley. The tensioner pulley is usually located near the top of the engine. Insert the breaker bar into the square hole in the tensioner pulley and turn it clockwise until the belt loosens.
- Use a wrench to loosen the idler pulley. The idler pulley is usually located near the bottom of the engine. Turn the wrench counterclockwise to loosen the idler pulley.
4. Remove the old serpentine belt. Once the tension is released, you can remove the old serpentine belt by slipping it off the pulleys.
5. Install the new serpentine belt. Start by slipping the new belt around the crankshaft pulley. Then, wrap it around the other pulleys in the correct order (refer to your vehicle's owner's manual for the correct routing).
6. Retighten the tensioner pulley or idler pulley. Use the breaker bar or wrench to tighten the tensioner pulley or idler pulley until the belt is snug.
7. Double-check the belt routing and tension. Make sure the belt is routed correctly around all the pulleys and that it is not too tight or too loose.
8. Close the hood and start your car. Let it run for a few minutes to make sure the belt is working properly.
Tips:
- If you have difficulty reaching the tensioner pulley or idler pulley, you may need to remove some components from the engine, such as the air filter housing or battery.
- Be careful not to overtighten the tensioner pulley or idler pulley, as this could damage the belt.
- If you are not comfortable performing this repair yourself, you can take your car to a qualified mechanic.
