How To Change Serpentine Belt Mazda 6

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The serpentine belt in most modern vehicles transfers power from the crank pulley to the various accessories mounted on the engine. A worn or damaged serpentine chugalug tin fail to adequately transfer the power, leaving your alternator, power steering, and ac failing to function. If your serpentine belt needs to exist replaced, it tin exist done using only mutual hand tools.

1
Pull the hood release within the cabin of the vehicle. To access the serpentine belt, you will need to open up the hood of the vehicle. The hood release can unremarkably be found near the door on the commuter's side of the vehicle.^[1]
- With the hood released, you will also need to release the safety latch located at the front of the vehicle.
- If you are having difficulty locating the hood release or safety latch, refer to your owner's manual for guidance.
2
Disconnect the bombardment. Yous should ever disconnect your bombardment earlier starting an automotive project. Apply the appropriate sized wrench or socket to loosen the nut property the blackness footing cable on the negative terminal of the battery.^[2]
- Slide the cable off of the last and tuck it to the side of the battery.
- You lot will not demand to disconnect the positive final.
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3
Locate the serpentine belt. Depending on the engine in your vehicle, the serpentine belt may be located at the front end of the engine bay, or it may exist along one side.^[3] There may be engine covers in the manner, and then be prepared to remove them if demand be.^[4]
- Engine covers may be held in place by plastic clips, then take care non to pause them as you remove the covers.
- If you cannot find your serpentine chugalug, refer to the service transmission for your specific vehicle.
4
Expect for signs of impairment or wear on the belt. One time you accept located the serpentine belt, audit it visually for signs of harm. If the chugalug is frayed, coming apart, or has marks that indicate that it has been rubbing on something, it volition need to exist replaced.^[5] It is ordinarily easy to decide if a chugalug needs to be replaced, every bit they tend to scissure or lose chunks when they are overworn.^[6]
- Most serpentine belts need to be replaced every xl,000 to 70,000 miles.
- If there are signs of the belt rubbing on something, brand sure to identify and repair any it was rubbing on to avoid damaging the new belt.
5
Notice the serpentine belt routing diagram. Many cars come with a sticker in the engine bay that shows exactly how the serpentine belt is supposed to be routed through the various pulleys on the engine. If your vehicle does not take a sticker, you will need to notice another way to recall how the belt should be run.^[7]
- Look in the owner'due south or service transmission for your specific year, brand and model vehicle for a diagram.
- You can too take a picture of the existing belt with your cell phone to employ as a guide when installing the new one.
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1
Determine if at that place is a chugalug tensioner pulley. Depending on the application, your serpentine belt will either have tension placed on information technology using a movable bracket or an machine tensioner pulley. This pulley uses an internal jump to apply consequent pressure to the belt at all times.^[eight]
- If your vehicle does non have a tensioner pulley, the alternator bracket is likely how tension is assail the chugalug.
- Refer to your vehicle'due south service transmission to confirm what blazon of tensioner your vehicle uses if you aren't sure.
2
Employ a wrench to relieve the machine tensioner. Automobile tensioners have either a hole that will fit a one-half inch drive ratchet, or a bolt you can utilize a socket to utilize pressure to. Insert the wrench or place the socket over the bolt on the tensioner and twist information technology away from the belt to save the tension on it.^[9]
- Depending on the positioning of the tensioner pulley y'all may demand to twist the tensioner clockwise or counterclockwise.
- Be sure to employ the right size socket to avert stripping the bolt head on the tensioner.
three
Loosen the bolts in the alternator bracket. If your vehicle uses the alternator bracket to employ tension to the belt, loosen the two bolts that pass through the long eyelets on the bracket. Every bit you loosen the bolts, the tension on the belt will probable motion the alternator toward the engine and salvage the pressure.^[10]
- Loosen the bolts enough to motion the alternator, but don't remove them.
4
Pull the belt off of the pulleys. With the tension relieved from the belt, pull it off of the caster that has been placing tension on it, so remove it from the around the residue of the pulleys on the engine.^[11]
- If the belt is severely damaged, be sure to remove any parts that may have come off of it as well.
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1
Compare the new chugalug to the old i. Wait at the new chugalug in comparing to the old one to exist sure they are the same width and have the same number of ribs going across the belt horizontally. The one-time belt may be slightly longer than the new one due to stretching.^[12]
- If the new chugalug is non the same width every bit the old one, it is the wrong belt.
- Brand certain the new belt doesn't show any signs of damage from the mill or it may tear after you install it.
2
Road the chugalug through the pulleys. Run the new chugalug through the pulleys in exactly the same style the former one was. Refer to the belt diagram in your vehicle'due south possessor's manual or the motion picture you lot took of the belt earlier removing it to guide you.^[13]
- The belt should be long enough to route around all of the pulleys except the tensioner until you relieve the force per unit area on it.
- If the chugalug is loose afterwards routing information technology, it is either the incorrect size belt or yous've routed it incorrectly.
3
Apply pressure on the car tensioner and put the chugalug over it. Use the same wrench to loosen the auto tensioner caster, then pull the belt over it. In one case the belt is in place, release the pressure on the tensioner and so it holds the belt in place.^[14]
- It may be difficult to apply pressure to the tensioner and route the belt, so you may desire to ask a friend to help.
4
Increase the tension on the belt. If your vehicle does non have an motorcar tensioner, insert a pry bar or piece of wood between the alternator and the engine. Run the chugalug over the alternator pulley, then use the bar to pry the alternator abroad from the engine and increase the tension on the chugalug. Tighten the bolts again every bit you apply tension.^[15]
- Yous may demand help tightening the bolts as yous apply pressure to the alternator.
- Be careful not to pry against anything plastic in your engine bay to avoid breaking anything.
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Question

How do I know if I demand to replace my serpentine belt?

Duston Maynes is an Automotive Repair Specialist at RepairSmith. Duston specializes in leading a team that handles a variety of automotive repairs including replacing spark plugs, front and rear brake pads, fuel pumps, motorcar batteries, alternators, timing belts, and starter motors. Duston holds an Acquaintance's degree in Automotive/Diesel Technology from The Universal Technical Establish of Arizona and is a Certified Diagnostic Technician and Motorcar Mechanics Technician through BMW Stride. RepairSmith received The 2020 Big Innovation Award past Business Intelligence Group and The Startup of the Year past the American Business Awards. RepairSmith was also included in Congenital in LA's 50 Startups to Sentry and The Business Intelligence Grouping'southward 52 Names Leading the Style in Customer Service. RepairSmith offers in-dwelling house services to provide car owners convenient and complete auto repair everywhere.

Automotive Repair Specialist

Adept Answer

Although serpentine belts last quite a flake, it's important to check on them every once in a while. To run across if there's whatsoever problem, check if the outer side of the chugalug is looking burnished and if the inside of the belt is cracking. These are both skillful indicators that the serpentine belt needs to exist replaced.
Question

What happens if the serpentine belt breaks?

Duston Maynes is an Automotive Repair Specialist at RepairSmith. Duston specializes in leading a team that handles a diversity of automotive repairs including replacing spark plugs, front and rear brake pads, fuel pumps, car batteries, alternators, timing belts, and starter motors. Duston holds an Acquaintance's degree in Automotive/Diesel fuel Technology from The Universal Technical Establish of Arizona and is a Certified Diagnostic Technician and Motorcar Mechanics Technician through BMW STEP. RepairSmith received The 2020 Big Innovation Award by Business organisation Intelligence Grouping and The Startup of the Year by the American Business Awards. RepairSmith was also included in Built in LA's l Startups to Watch and The Business Intelligence Grouping's 52 Names Leading the Style in Customer Service. RepairSmith offers in-home services to provide car owners user-friendly and complete automobile repair everywhere.

Automotive Repair Specialist

Proficient Reply

The belt can get defenseless in the crank, obstructing the organization and damaging the motor.
Question

How do I supercede the crank shaft pulley?

It's impossible to say without knowing the year, make, or model of your vehicle. You should be able to practise a search online to notice some tips on replacing parts for your specific vehicle.

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Article Summary Ten

To replace a serpentine chugalug, get-go past locating the quondam belt at the front or side of your engine bay. Then, use a wrench to salvage the auto tensioner so you can pull the chugalug off of the caster organisation. If your vehicle doesn't have an auto tensioner, look for an alternator bracket and loosen the bolts in it instead. Next, get a new serpentine chugalug with the same width and number of ribs every bit the former 1, and route it through the caster system. Finally, apply tension to the new belt by tightening the auto tensioner or alternator bracket. To learn how to tell if an old serpentine chugalug needs to be replaced, whorl downwards!

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