serpentine belt
09-13-14, 10:23 AM
#1
Instructor
Thread Starter
serpentine belt
Well, started to get belt squeak during cold starts. The idler pulley was changed many miles ago for same issue, but it seems to be starting up again. There are NO tutorials for serpentine belt replacement on this gen of RX, and now I know why. PIA. If you're looking for a tutorial, this ain't it. This is more of a anti-tutorial. After removing the wheel, the panel that needs to be removed to access the belts (more or less) is shown.
Last edited by afpj; 09-13-14 at 10:56 AM.
09-13-14, 10:32 AM
#2
Instructor
Thread Starter
Unfortunately, just to get to that panel, there are several fasteners that need to be removed so that the fascia covering it forward of that panel can be rotated out of the way
09-13-14, 10:35 AM
#3
Instructor
Thread Starter
limitations on pic size require multiple posts...couple more pics of the fascia fasteners that need removal then the front inner wheel liner can be rotated. Orange handle screwdriver seen in the space created after rotating fascia
09-13-14, 10:38 AM
#4
Instructor
Thread Starter
Same screwdriver pointing at the fastener that needs to be removed so the medial fender cover (covering the pulleys/belt in very first pic) can be removed
09-13-14, 10:44 AM
#5
Instructor
Thread Starter
Once the 3 fasteners for the medial fascia are removed, you can remove it and see the belt/pulley from the underside as in this first pic, lying down and looking up. The second pic is the view from the top
09-13-14, 10:54 AM
#6
Instructor
Thread Starter
In order to get to the tensioner and rotate it to release tension, you really should have a long flat handled socket wrench, and I don't. So at this point the mission was scrubbed. I might have been able to get my regular socket in there, but it would need another hand up top to move the belt. Just didn't feel like taking the risk of NOT being able to get it back on. Just used my belt wear gauge to confirm the belt was still good. So this is probably why there are no DIY videos on this vehicle generation (at least that I could find)
Last edited by afpj; 09-13-14 at 11:42 AM.
09-15-14, 07:56 AM
#7
Moderator
More time is spent getting to the belt than it takes to replace it! I could replace the Serpentine belt on my 1995 Explorer in 10 minutes as there were no engine covers and it could all be done from above.
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09-15-14, 01:08 PM
#9
Instructor
Thread Starter
amen to that. both my brothers 94 Explorer and our GM truck easy to change.
09-15-14, 01:14 PM
#10
Instructor
Thread Starter
curiously the maintenance schedule has no replacement for the belt only a bunch of inspections. at least 4 us living in the high desert, I tend to change these things out at 60,000 miles which is what our dealer did as well.
07-26-15, 12:41 PM
#11
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Old post, I know. Just an FYI. You can access and change the belt from the engine bay without removing anything else. You do need the long thin serpentine belt wrench (harbor freight or auto zone).
This doesn't mean it wasn't a PITA. It sure was. So, tight in there.
Tools:
Steps:
1. Use wrench (14MM) to remove tension on belt.
2. Remove old belt.
3. Use the 30" 3/8 extension to slide between the tensioner and pulley. Allows you to remove the wrench and position the belt.
Installing. This took a few tries. Ultimately this one worked. All visualization are from looking straight at the pulleys.
1. Thread the serpentine belt to the bottom of the engine around the bottom two pulleys. I used a wood handle to keep it from popping off the bottom left pulley, placed diagonal across the pulley.
2. Bring belt around tensioner pulley, then around the top left pulley.
3. Remove tension from tensioner and remove the 3/8" extension.
4.. Now go under the idler pulley and around the top right pulley.
5. Make sure the bottom right pulley didn't slip off, mine did and I used a long 3/8" extension to push it back on the pulley.
6. Release tension.
7. Remove dowel.
8. Inspect the pulleys to make sure everything is square.
Hope this helps. Took me a while to do this and I am very mechanical. It's a PITA because it is so tight.
Also: I used the Bando belt.
This doesn't mean it wasn't a PITA. It sure was. So, tight in there.
Tools:
- 30" 3/8 extension to hold the tensioner pulley and push the belt onto pulleys.
- Wood dowel or similar
- Serpentine belt wrench
- 14MM end for above wrench
Steps:
1. Use wrench (14MM) to remove tension on belt.
2. Remove old belt.
3. Use the 30" 3/8 extension to slide between the tensioner and pulley. Allows you to remove the wrench and position the belt.
Installing. This took a few tries. Ultimately this one worked. All visualization are from looking straight at the pulleys.
1. Thread the serpentine belt to the bottom of the engine around the bottom two pulleys. I used a wood handle to keep it from popping off the bottom left pulley, placed diagonal across the pulley.
2. Bring belt around tensioner pulley, then around the top left pulley.
3. Remove tension from tensioner and remove the 3/8" extension.
4.. Now go under the idler pulley and around the top right pulley.
5. Make sure the bottom right pulley didn't slip off, mine did and I used a long 3/8" extension to push it back on the pulley.
6. Release tension.
7. Remove dowel.
8. Inspect the pulleys to make sure everything is square.
Hope this helps. Took me a while to do this and I am very mechanical. It's a PITA because it is so tight.
Also: I used the Bando belt.
07-26-15, 04:21 PM
#12
Instructor
Thread Starter
Congrats! I wasn't confident about doing it all from above. Nice to see it can be done but wow....pita I think is the google keyword on this. I had the dealership change the belt a few months ago as another pulley let go...I'm even less inclined to change those pulleys myself given the lack of working space.
