Inspection and replacement of the serpentine drive belt on your Mazda 6 will keep the belt from failing and leaving you stranded. The serpentine belt should be checked during your regular maintenance intervals and replaced if it is stretched, worn, cracked or has been slipping and making noise. The serpentine belt drives the alternator, water pump, air conditioning compressor and the power steering pump, so failure of the belt will cause the car to overheat, and electrical and steering systems will fail to function.
Locate the serpentine belt tensioner on the front of the engine. Place a socket and ratchet on the bolt in the center of the belt tensioner and turn it clockwise to release the tension on the belt.
Slide the drive belt off of the tensioner and accessory pulleys then slowly release the tensioner. Do not let it snap back as damage may occur to the spring and mechanism if this happens.
Remove the old belt from the engine compartment and install a new belt onto the accessory pulleys. Turn the belt tensioner clockwise with your socket and ratchet then slide the new serpentine belt over it.
Release the tension on the belt tensioner and allow it to remove the slack from the new belt. You do not need to adjust it any more than this. The tensioner is designed to keep the precise amount of tension on the serpentine belt for your Mazda.
