Help with replacing alternator belt on my 94 Nissan

[Hadley48]

Help!!! I couldn't start my car and with a quick check of all the engine, saw that the alternator belt was missing. The belt must of came off. So now I need to replace it. Can anyone help with this task? I didn't take it off, so I don't know how to replace it. I was hoping to avoid taking into a automotive repair place. Thanks for any help I can receive.

[blackmaxima88se]

(1) a broken or missing alternator drivebelt will not keep an engine from starting. the engine will start, and the red battery discharge (alternator) warning light will stay on, and that is usually accompanied with the brake system warning light, because they're wired together through the bulb check relay.

(2) disconnect the battery (because you will be working near the alternator) and connect it to a battery charger if you've been driving with no alternator. using an alternator to charge a battery is a bad idea.

Every nut, bolt, and fastener used in these cars are of the metric system. Off-hand, you will need 10mm, 12mm, and 14mm sockets and wrenches.

The directions I'm giving you are for replacing the belts on a 1994 nissan sentra XE, 1.6L, US model w/o california emission, with air conditioning. if you don't have this, there may be a difference. also, if your alternator belt is broken, your other ones are probably not far behind. I'd recommend replacing them all in one shot.

(2) put the car in gear, set the parking brake, and jack up the front passengers side of the car. remove the wheel, the inner fender apron and the plastic splash shield.

(3) locate the belt that drives the alternator. other belts may need to come off in order to remove the alternator drivebelt. there will be a belt that drives the water pump and power steering pump. another belt will run the A/C compressor. If these belts are in the way, they must be removed. Remove the water pump/power steering belt by loosening the power steering pump bolts and pivoting it towards the engine. this was not a fun task. once the tension is released, slip the belt off.

remove the compressor drivebelt by loosening the pulley locknut on the tensioner pulley (14mm I think) and turning the adjusting bolt on the bottom (12mm I think) to relieve tension. then remove the belt.

remove the alternator drivebelt by loosening the alternator mounting bolts and turning the adjusting screw on top enough to be able to pivot the alternator body towards the engine. once this can be done, slip the belts off.

installation is the reverse of removing the belts. tighen the belts only enough that you can twist the belt 90 degrees. don't overtighten the belts unless you wanna destroy your alternator bearing or rip the crankshaft pulley off at the snout. slip the alternator belt over the crankshaft pulley, then over the alternator pulley, then tighten the alternator tensioning bolt on top to tighten the belt. once it's properly tightened, tighen the rest of the alternator bolts. put the compressor belt on, tighten the adjusting screw on the bottom, and the locknut. then install the power steering/water pump belt.

reconnect the battery and start the engine. make sure nothing squeals or slips. check the voltage across the battery terminals to make sure there is at least 13.5 to 14 volts. once everything is ok, put the rest of the car back together.

I'd be happy to answer any more questions you may have.

Dan

[wine]

Originally Posted by blackmaxima88se

(1) a broken or missing alternator drivebelt will not keep an engine from starting. the engine will start, and the red battery discharge (alternator) warning light will stay on, and that is usually accompanied with the brake system warning light, because they're wired together through the bulb check relay.

(2) disconnect the battery (because you will be working near the alternator) and connect it to a battery charger if you've been driving with no alternator. using an alternator to charge a battery is a bad idea.

Every nut, bolt, and fastener used in these cars are of the metric system. Off-hand, you will need 10mm, 12mm, and 14mm sockets and wrenches.

The directions I'm giving you are for replacing the belts on a 1994 nissan sentra XE, 1.6L, US model w/o california emission, with air conditioning. if you don't have this, there may be a difference. also, if your alternator belt is broken, your other ones are probably not far behind. I'd recommend replacing them all in one shot.

(2) put the car in gear, set the parking brake, and jack up the front passengers side of the car. remove the wheel, the inner fender apron and the plastic splash shield.

(3) locate the belt that drives the alternator. other belts may need to come off in order to remove the alternator drivebelt. there will be a belt that drives the water pump and power steering pump. another belt will run the A/C compressor. If these belts are in the way, they must be removed. Remove the water pump/power steering belt by loosening the power steering pump bolts and pivoting it towards the engine. this was not a fun task. once the tension is released, slip the belt off.

remove the compressor drivebelt by loosening the pulley locknut on the tensioner pulley (14mm I think) and turning the adjusting bolt on the bottom (12mm I think) to relieve tension. then remove the belt.

remove the alternator drivebelt by loosening the alternator mounting bolts and turning the adjusting screw on top enough to be able to pivot the alternator body towards the engine. once this can be done, slip the belts off.

installation is the reverse of removing the belts. tighen the belts only enough that you can twist the belt 90 degrees. don't overtighten the belts unless you wanna destroy your alternator bearing or rip the crankshaft pulley off at the snout. slip the alternator belt over the crankshaft pulley, then over the alternator pulley, then tighten the alternator tensioning bolt on top to tighten the belt. once it's properly tightened, tighen the rest of the alternator bolts. put the compressor belt on, tighten the adjusting screw on the bottom, and the locknut. then install the power steering/water pump belt.

reconnect the battery and start the engine. make sure nothing squeals or slips. check the voltage across the battery terminals to make sure there is at least 13.5 to 14 volts. once everything is ok, put the rest of the car back together.

I'd be happy to answer any more questions you may have.

Dan

I'm also trying to install the drive belts on my 97 Sentra with AC.
I've loosened the drive belt adjustement locking bolt. Where the heck are the power steering mounting and pivot bolts located?

I've loosened one top and one bottom alternator bolt. How many alternator bolts must I loosen?

As far as the compressor goes, where is the adjusting bolt for the idler pulley?

Pictures would be great. Thanks.