A tip for changing serp belt by yourself

[austinb82]

I changed the serpentine belt on my vibe yesterday. I looked at this forum first before doing so and I tried to figure out the c-clamp method of releasing the tension but wasn't sure what I was supposed to clamp down plus my clamps are cheap hard plastic ones so I didn't quite trust them. I decided just to use the tensioner that is built in.I was able to get the belt off just fine by pulling the 19mm wrench toward me. Getting the new belt back on was trickier and just pulling the wrench toward me with one hand while trying to get it on with the other wasn't working so well. That is when I came up with an idea. I got a ratchet strap and hooked one end on a secure piece of metal underneath the front end of the car and the other end hooked around the wrench which was in a vertical position on the tensioner nut. When I tightened the strap it pulled the wrench toward the front of the car releasing the tension. This allowed me to use both hands to get the belt on with relative ease. I would recommend ratcheting a couple clicks at a time until you are able to get the belt on as i've heard stories of the tensioner nut breaking off. Also be careful not to stand in front of the car while the strap is pulling it forward as I could possibly see the strap slipping off the wrench or the wrench losing its grip on the nut causing the wrench or a hook on the strap to go flying forward and I don't want to be responsible for any injuries.Also if anyone is looking for a diagram showing the correct way to re-install the belt you can find one here "http://madstyle1972.com/Repair/14/201lhc04/x040001.pdf". I would recommend double and triple checking it even if you think you remember how to put it back on as incorrect re-installation could cause problems.Also here is an image of the nut you are supposed to pull toward the front of the car to release the tension. Hope this helps anyone getting ready to change their serpentine belt.

[jkm311]

I keep going back and forth about doing this myself. One month people flood this forum saying it's the easiest thing in the world. Other times, people snap that casted bolt off or nearly part of their body, without even getting the belt on in the process. I was really hoping to do the C-clamp method (made so much sense to me, seeing that you get the use of both hands) and save myself some money by not taking somewhere, but I am also one of the lucky many that needs a new tensioner assembly anyhow ("marbles in a cup" sound from tensioner when warmed up).What has pretty much made the decision for me to take it somewhere is the zero frakin' space to perform this belt swap in the engine bay. They need another couple inches of clearance in there for my clumsy man hands to do any good. I just can't afford to not do this right. The Vibe is paid off in 30 days from now, and the money I was paying each month will go in to a fix-it fund for the spring, I'm thinking.

[Mark]

It's really not that difficult. Do what I did:1. Get a serpentine belt tool set from one of the parts stores, advanced auto, auto zone, napa, etc. 2. Look carefully at the belt routing and draw a picture of it for later.3. Use a 19mm socket to pull the tensioner pulley forward, and remove the old belt starting from the alternator. 4. You have no alternative but to get the new one on now, or have it towed to a shop.It really wasn't that hard, and this was the first one I'd ever done myself. On another thread someone said you have to do it from the top, but on the same thread I stated that I wasn't able to and got it from underneath by removing the splash guard. I also have a 2000 Corolla with a 1ZZ engine and was able to do that belt from the top no problem.

[austinb82]

yeah its really not that hard and if you use a ratchet strap to hold the tensioner you can have 2 hands free.The one suggestion I have is the instructions I had showed a picture telling you to remove a metal part with a rubber peice in it that attaches the engine to the body. I think it is some sort of shock absorber thing to damper engine vibrations. Don't remove this, you can get the belt off without doing so and once you get it off it is a pain in the (removed) to get back on.Putting the front end on jack stands or ramps and removing the cover that is below the belt will make access to the bottom 2 pulleys easier but it probably isn't necessary.

[austinb82]

Also if you do decide to do it yourself send me a private message and I'll send you some instructions I found that I believe are scanned from one of the maintenance manuals.

[knightrace]

Quote, originally posted by jkm311 »I keep going back and forth about doing this myself. One month people flood this forum saying it's the easiest thing in the world. Other times, people snap that casted bolt off or nearly part of their body, without even getting the belt on in the process. I was really hoping to do the C-clamp method (made so much sense to me, seeing that you get the use of both hands) and save myself some money by not taking somewhere, but I am also one of the lucky many that needs a new tensioner assembly anyhow ("marbles in a cup" sound from tensioner when warmed up).Luckily, I'm in the "easiest thing" class. Nothing broke, thankfully. Two things really helped me. 1) a metal bar to leverage the ratchet down towards the front of the car, 2) my 11 year old daughters small hands put the belt over the final pulley .. i think it was the alternator.

[joecoolinatl]

can you just post them here? or I can host them on my server if needed. speaking of the serp belt, i got mine in yesterday and need to do it this week! woohoo!