serpentine belt

Hi, I was wondering if anyone has changed their serpentine belt themselves? Is it a difficult thing to do. Thanks, Neil

I considered changing the serpentine belt myself, but realized I didn't have the tools or the knowledge. There is a shop in my town that specializes in batteries and alternators. Since they work with belts I got a price from them...$53 for the belt and labor--& the guy who replaced the belt told me it requires special tools for the tension. But if a person has the knowledge and tools it can be done.

Serp belts are actually very easy. You just have to take your time and make sure the routing is correct. Most vehicles have a routing diagram in the engine compartment somewhere. All you have to do is find the tensioner and get a ratchet w/ the correct size socket (some tensioners just have a square hole....a ratchet head fits in there) and pul to the side that loosens the tension on the belt. Usually it is easiest to slip it off of the alterbator pulley first. Just be careful not the let the ratchet slip while your fingers are between the belt and the pullley (ouch!). No special tools or skills required.

I changed mine today. It wasn't too bad--just use the diagram (should be a sticker under the hood). The only trick was getting the replacement belt over the last pulley--it was pretty tight, and I couldn't get it by hand. I left the belt off the fan pulley, then used a screwdriver handle to push the belt on the pulley. Just run the handle around the pulley, pushing the belt up and onto the pulley as you go. Shazzam!

I changed mine today. It wasn't too bad--just use the diagram (should be a sticker under the hood). The only trick was getting the replacement belt over the last pulley--it was pretty tight, and I couldn't get it by hand. I left the belt off the fan pulley, then used a screwdriver handle to push the belt on the pulley. Just run the handle around the pulley, pushing the belt up and onto the pulley as you go. Shazzam!


Another trick to getting the serp belt on that last pulley is to do a trick called bumping. take the screwdriver and put it between the belt and the pulley, make sure you are on the side the pulley rotates too, while holding pressure on the belt, have someone turn the key for a split second and this will bump the belt onto the pulley.