A drive belt is an important part of your car's engine. Among other functions, the drive belt allows the charging system to charge your battery and supply electricity to the different engine and vehicle components. Best of all, replacing a worn out belt can be done with minimal skills. Here we describe the three most common methods of drive belt adjustment, so you can follow in a quick and practical way to change the belt on your vehicle.
Locate the drive belt at the front or right hand side--passenger side--of the engine compartment. Also, inside the engine compartment, find the label showing the drive belt routing. It will tell if your vehicle uses an idler pulley, an automatic tensioner or some other system to adjust or disengage the drive belt. If there is no label, make a note of the drive belt routing if necessary so that it can be reinstalled the same way.
Loosen the locking and pivot bolts from the alternator using a wrench or ratchet. Move the alternator with your hands towards the engine or away from it, whichever way makes the drive belt become loose. If your vehicle has this drive belt mounting configuration, go directly to Step 5.
Locate the idler pulley if your vehicle is equipped with a serpentine or V-ribbed belt. Using a wrench or ratchet, loosen the locking bolt, then turn the adjustment bolt using a ratchet until you can slip the belt off the pulleys. If your vehicle has this drive belt mounting configuration, go directly to Step 5.
Locate the drive belt tensioner if your vehicle is equipped with an automatic drive belt tension system. With a wrench or ratchet, use the bolt on the center of the tensioner to lift it and release the belt off its pulleys.
Take the old belt with you to the auto parts store and compare it with the new one, making sure it matches in size, width and configuration. This is an important step that could save you a lot of confusion and unnecessary trips back to the store.
Mount the new drive belt around the pulleys following its original routing configuration.
Use a pry bar to lift the alternator and give the drive belt its appropriate tension--not too tight or too loose--while tightening the locking bolt and then tighten the pivot bolt. If your system has an idler pulley or drive belt tensioner, follow the reverse procedure used to pull the belt off the pulleys.
Make sure the belt ribs on serpentine belts interlock with their corresponding grooves or narrow channels on the pulleys.
