Is changing a belt a DIY job?

gerdalt

I am looking at changing the main belt on a 2006 Toyota Corolla.
I mean the rubber belt that drives the alternator and water pump (and more??).
Looked at some videos and it seems fairly easy.
Is it really a DIY job?
The tensioning mechanism operation is unclear.
Is it just spring loaded? i.e. no measurement/adjustment required.
Is wrapping the new belt physically difficult? Access looks like a problem.
Any tips?
I see a big variation in prices for a new belt.
Best brand? Worth the money?

Gerry

Thegalwayman

Wouldn't class that as a DIY job

visual

Thegalwayman wrote: »

Wouldn't class that as a DIY job

Of course its a DIY job no special tools required unlike a timing belt.

Im not 100% sure of corolla 2006
Most cars have either a tension pully or the alternator position adjusts the tension on the belt.

I think on the corolla its the alternator it has two bolts one is fixed position the other bolt allows for movement.

You slacken off the bolts the alternator moves to release the tension on belt allowing you slip the belt over alternator pulley ( best to draw or take mental note of how belt goes around pulleys )

Replace belt and adjust alternator position to take up the slack. The belt should be tight that pushing with your figner it should only deflect 1/4 to 1/2 inch.

You might find a youtube video or failing that get a haynes manual.

I found Toyota not very expensive for parts use that as a starting price and unless there is a hugh difference in price I rather have a genuine part than a unknown quality part.

dooroy

If you haven't done anything like this before you could run into problems if it has an automatic tensioner ( spring loaded) .
It can be very difficult to turn it sufficiently to release the belt due to
1) the restricted space and
2) the force required to turn tensioner ;
*then you have the problem of routing the belt if there are a number of pulleys involved - a diagram drawn before you remove old belt may help ;
* and then make sure that the belt is properly located on all the pulleys ;

Wheelnut

We assume that it's the accessory drive belt that can be seen on the end of the engine, and not the timing belt. As stated already, this is an easy job and that causes me to wonder how you know it needs to be changed. No disrespect but if you know so little about changing it how have you reached this conclusion?

gerdalt

AH! Good question. Yes, it's the drive belt - not the timing belt.
The man in the garage doing a service said it needed to be changed. By him. For €120.
He showed me an old belt that was visibly cracked and worn. Like mine he said.
I declined and later inspected the belt.
As best I can see it looks just fine - I can see no cracks like the one he showed me.
But given it has 70K miles on it I am considering a DIY job. Hence my questions.
Google says belt life can be up to 100K miles.
Decisions . . .

visual

How to replace drive belt or serpentine belt Toyo…: http://youtu.be/01J3Fp9_bMA


just checked youtube its a tensioner and not alternator

still a DIY job

Interslice

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eX27hH39mQM

How to change a serpinteen belt

Have a look and see what you think. Doesnt say what engine it is.

mickdw

Should be a DIY if you are handy. There will be a fairly heavy spring in the tensioner so dont be afraid to turn it.
After that, it only a matter of ensuring the new belt is properly located on the various pulleys/idlers

Ded_Zebra

It can be helpful to sketch the path of the belt so you can see the path it runs after the old one is taken off

dr.fuzzenstein

Best thing you can do if you're not sure how it goes back together:
Take plenty of pics on phone/camera, this will make the guesswork much easier when it comes to putting it back again.

gerdalt

Thanks to all who responded - looks like a GO for the DIY job

joujoujou

And here's a diagram, if you want.

DublinDilbert

gerdalt wrote: »

AH! Good question. Yes, it's the drive belt - not the timing belt.
The man in the garage doing a service said it needed to be changed. By him. For €120.
He showed me an old belt that was visibly cracked and worn. Like mine he said.
I declined and later inspected the belt.
As best I can see it looks just fine - I can see no cracks like the one he showed me.
But given it has 70K miles on it I am considering a DIY job. Hence my questions.
Google says belt life can be up to 100K miles.
Decisions . . .

Are you sure he didn't mean the timing belt?? as €120 is very expensive for the belt your talking about.

gerdalt

Definitely NOT the timing belt. Just the drive belt. Yes, very expensive.

Thanks JOUJOUJOU

JohnBoy26

DublinDilbert wrote: »

Are you sure he didn't mean the timing belt?? as €120 is very expensive for the belt your talking about.

that model corolla doesn't have a timing belt.

€120 sound expensive though.

bbbaldy

120 for an accessory belt , time to change your mechanic I think, pulling the p1ss.

ofcork

Got one changed on a 04 avensis a few years ago for 40 euro.

CJhaughey

If its the 4zzfe family its the easiest belt change you can do, there is an alloy arm with a hex moulded onto it(I think its 21mm) you simply put a spanner on the moulded nut and push it back to release the tension.
remove the old belt and fit the new one then push the arm back again to fit the new belt.and tension it.
Its really simple as far as belts go.

joujoujou

CJhaughey wrote: »

If its the *zz* family its the easiest belt change you can do, there is an alloy arm with a hex moulded onto it (its 19 mm) you simply put a spanner on the moulded nut and push it back to release the tension.
remove the old belt and fit the new one then push the arm back again to fit the new belt.and tension it.
Its really simple as far as belts go.

FYP a bit.

And I can confirm, it is easy indeed.