jimrx7

just wanted to know if it was rather easy to change my own belts on the car. which belts do i need, i have not changed the stock configuration of the engine at all, what basic tools would ai need and lastly how long would you project this would take.? any responses at all would be greatly appreciated. I did a search and did not find any info for some reason.

RotaryRocket88

iTrader: (7)

Auto parts stores have all the belts you need, and can tell you what sizes (usually). If you you work the belts around the fan blades, you can swap all of them out without removing the fan too.

m33p0n3

iTrader: (1)

If you have both AC and power steering still on the car, there's four belts. One for power steering, one for AC, one for the air pump, and one for the alternator. The ones on the air pump and alternator you have to slip over the fan.

Toolwise, you don't need much. A 10,12,14,17 and 23mm socket will do. The alternator uses a 14mm bolt on the pivot bolt and a 12mm on the adjuster. The air pump has two 12mm bolts; the adjustment one is on the bottom and rather hard to see. The AC and PS both have a lock nut on the adjustment pulley; loosen the nut on the pulley and then adjust the height with the 10mm bolt on the bracket. One is a 17mm and the other is the 23mm.

Once you've done it a couple times, changing all the belts and an alternator only takes about 15 minutes! (unfortunately, I know this from experience from having to do it)

jimrx7

m33p0n3 that is exactly the response that I was looking for, thank you for the quick and clear answers to the questions that I had in the original post.

m33p0n3

iTrader: (1)

No problem, I went through the same thing. I bought my 90 GXL and the alternator started overvolting about a week in. Then napa gave me an alternator with the wrong size pulley, so I got really good at swapping out belts.

RandomHero

iTrader: (2)

It also wouldnt hurt to have something to pry up on the alternator with, it can be tough to get it tight enough simply by hand, especially with a new belt. Unless you got a buddy with you, that helps too.

cmanns

I push up with the bottom of my right palm, I can get it tight enough you cant push in much at all, which I think is bad, I forget the amount of "play" or whatever it's called too tired to recall

So I left it loose incase, since I'm using a tempo alt, I hear too tight is bad on the bearings too.

RandomHero

iTrader: (2)

Yea I've heard that too but without something to add a lil more leverage I tend to not be able to get em tight enough.

cmanns

S4/S5 may be slightly different right there but your arm on the strut tower I thinkpalm up against alt should work fine

I did this 3 times in the same day/two, but yes a friend is always nice