The engine on your Toyota Paseo uses a drive belt to run accessories like the air conditioner, alternator and power steering pump. Over time, the belt wears out and, if not checked periodically, may break during engine operation, resulting in possibly serious mechanical problems. When inspecting the belt on your vehicle, look for signs of glazing, cracking or fraying. If you find any of these conditions, replace the belt immediately.
Disconnect the black, ground battery cable using a wrench. This will prevent anyone from accidentally cranking the engine over as you release the drive belt off the engine.
Compare the drive belt routing with the routing diagram located on the engine compartment. Make sure they match or make a note of the routing on a piece of paper for later reference.
Insert a breaker bar with a 1/2-inch drive in the back-tab hole of the belt tensioner pulley. If your particular Paseo model is not equipped with this tab hole, use a ratchet and socket instead to turn the tensioner center bolt.
Pivot the tensioner pulley away from the drive belt just enough to loosen and slide the belt off the tensioner pulley.
Release the tensioner pulley slowly back into position. Letting the tensioner snap back in position may damage internal parts.
Remove the drive belt from the rest of the engine pulleys and away from the engine compartment.
Route the new belt over the engine pulleys starting at the crankshaft or biggest pulley at the bottom of the engine. Follow the routing diagram on the engine compartment or your own notes. Save the tensioner or other pulley close to it for last.
Pivot the tensioner pulley using the breaker bar or ratchet and socket.
Slide the drive belt over the last pulley and make sure the belt is properly seated over each one of the pulleys. Slowly release the tensioner back into position.
Check again the position of the drive belt over each one of the pulleys. The belt should be sitting exactly between the flanges of each pulley.
Connect the black, ground battery cable using the wrench.
Start the engine and make sure the belt is running correctly over the pulleys.
