1. Locate the serpentine belt. The serpentine belt is the long, thin belt that runs around the front of the engine. It is usually black or brown.
2. Loosen the tensioner pulley. The tensioner pulley is the pulley that is located near the top of the engine. It has a spring-loaded arm that holds the belt in place. To loosen the tensioner pulley, insert a wrench into the square hole in the pulley and turn it counterclockwise.
3. Remove the belt. Once the tensioner pulley is loose, you can remove the belt by slipping it off of the pulleys.
Install the new belt.
1. Place the new belt around the pulleys. Start by placing the belt around the crankshaft pulley. Then, wrap the belt around the other pulleys in the following order: water pump pulley, power steering pump pulley, alternator pulley, and tensioner pulley.
2. Tighten the tensioner pulley. Once the belt is in place, tighten the tensioner pulley by turning the wrench clockwise until the spring is compressed.
3. Check the belt tension. The belt tension should be tight enough so that it does not slip, but not so tight that it damages the pulleys. You can check the belt tension by pressing on it with your thumb. The belt should give about 1/2 inch when you press on it.
Additional tips:
- Before you start, make sure that the engine is cool.
- If you have trouble removing the old belt, you can use a pry bar to help you.
- Be careful not to drop any bolts or nuts into the engine.
- If you are not comfortable changing the serpentine belt yourself, you can take your vehicle to a qualified mechanic.
